The Angmering School

GCSE Performance

The Angmering School ranks 3,283rd in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it below the England average in the bottom 40% of schools. Locally, however, the picture differs: the school ranks 1st among secondary schools in Littlehampton.

The Attainment 8 score of 39.3 sits below the England average of 45.9. The Progress 8 score of -0.42 indicates that students make below-average progress from their Key Stage 2 starting points. The EBacc average point score of 3.23 compares to the England average of 4.08, with 4.2% of pupils achieving grades 5 or above in EBacc subjects.

These figures require context. The school serves a comprehensive intake from a coastal community with mixed socioeconomic backgrounds. The presence of the Lavinia Norfolk Centre means the cohort includes students with complex additional needs whose progress, while often excellent against individual targets, may not register in headline metrics.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form, operating as Angmering Sixth Form College, ranks 1,888th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), again placing it in the bottom 40% of schools. Within Littlehampton, the school holds the top position for sixth form provision.

In 2024, 4.4% of grades achieved were A*, with 7.9% at A and 22.8% at B. The combined A*-B rate of 35.1% compares to the England average of 47.2%. While these headline figures sit below average, individual student success stories demonstrate what focused support can achieve. Recent leavers have progressed to Imperial College London (Biochemistry), University of Bristol (Aerospace Engineering and English Literature), University of Warwick (Mathematics and Statistics), and University of Surrey (Physics and Aerospace Engineering).

One student in recent years achieved AAA*A and chose a Goldman Sachs Global Markets degree apprenticeship over university, reflecting the diverse pathways the school prepares students for.

The curriculum follows a traditional academic structure with notable enhancements. Students are taught in mixed-ability groups through Key Stage 3, with setting introduced for some subjects at Key Stage 4. The school day runs from 8:45am to 3:15pm, structured around five periods with a distinctive feature: Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) occupies twenty minutes daily between break and Period 3, embedding literacy into the school routine.

Science provision benefits from the school's Science College specialism, with dedicated laboratories in the new block. The Specialist Sports status translates into enhanced PE facilities and pathways, including vocational BTEC Sport qualifications at sixth form level alongside traditional A-levels.

The 2022 Ofsted inspection noted that leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum with a comprehensive training programme for staff. Teaching motivates students to explore subjects deeply, and the curriculum builds knowledge sequentially across year groups.

For students in the Lavinia Norfolk Centre, teaching is adapted by specialist staff including a Qualified Teacher of the Deaf, a Qualified Teacher of the Vision Impaired, and Lead Teachers for Physical Disability and Autism Spectrum Conditions. This expertise ensures that students with complex needs receive appropriately modified instruction while remaining integrated with the mainstream school community.

Post-16 Destinations

In the 2023/24 cohort of 77 sixth form leavers, 32% progressed to university, 10% entered apprenticeships, 35% moved into employment, and 4% continued to further education. The significant proportion entering employment reflects the school's vocational pathways and the strong local demand for skilled workers in the region.

Oxbridge and Russell Group

The school demonstrates that Oxbridge is achievable from a comprehensive starting point. Six students applied to Oxbridge in the measurement period, with one securing a place at Cambridge. Georgia Connelly secured a place at the University of Oxford to study Human Sciences in a recent cohort, proving that focused preparation and individual talent can overcome statistical probabilities.

Russell Group destinations feature among the cohort, though specific percentages are not published by the school. Named destinations in recent years include Imperial College London, University of Bristol, University of Warwick, University of Edinburgh, and University of Sussex.

Apprenticeships and Vocational Routes

The school takes vocational pathways seriously. The annual Careers Fair attracts over 60 employers, universities, and colleges, providing direct exposure to alternative routes. Degree apprenticeships, including competitive schemes at organisations like Goldman Sachs, feature among recent leaver destinations. This breadth of outcomes reflects a genuinely comprehensive ethos that values all pathways equally.

Admissions to Year 7 are coordinated through West Sussex County Council, with The Angmering School operating as a community school under the local authority. The school is oversubscribed, with 479 applications for 250 places in the most recent published data, representing a subscription ratio of 1.92 applications per place.

Places are allocated according to standard West Sussex admissions criteria: looked-after children and those with EHCPs naming the school receive highest priority, followed by siblings, then distance from the school. No formal catchment boundary exists; allocation operates purely on straight-line distance from the school gate.

For students requiring the specialist support of the Lavinia Norfolk Centre, placement follows a separate process involving consultation with West Sussex County Council's SEND team. Parents considering such a placement are encouraged to visit the school at any time during the year for a tour and meeting with the SEND team.

Sixth Form Entry

The Angmering Sixth Form College welcomes external applicants alongside internal progression from Year 11. Entry requirements vary by course, with A-level subjects typically requiring grade 5 or above at GCSE in the relevant subject. The school offers over 30 Level 3 qualifications, including A-levels, BTEC awards, and the Extended Project Qualification.

The Sixth Form Open Evening typically takes place in late October. For 2025, this is scheduled for 23rd October from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.

Open Events

The School Open Evening for Year 7 entry is scheduled for 25th September 2025 from 4:00pm to 6:30pm. Three Open Mornings follow on 30th September, 1st October, and 2nd October 2025, allowing prospective families to see the school in operation during a normal working day.

Pastoral support structures reflect the school's commitment to knowing every student as an individual. The Ofsted inspection highlighted high-quality pastoral care as a defining characteristic, with leaders creating an environment where students feel safe.

The school maintains a full-time nurse experienced in managing complex needs, essential given the presence of students with significant medical requirements through the Lavinia Norfolk Centre. Mental health and wellbeing services are coordinated through dedicated staff, with the SENDCO, Lou Thompson, overseeing provision for students with additional needs across the school.

Behaviour is calm and orderly. The 2022 inspection noted that the school is a calm and orderly place where pupils feel safe. The values of Ambition, Courage, and Respect provide a framework for behaviour expectations that students understand and largely embrace.

Sixth form students contribute to the pastoral culture by mentoring younger pupils, creating vertical connections that benefit both age groups.

Sport

The Specialist Sports College status translates into genuine opportunity. Facilities include outdoor pitches used by Worthing Hockey Club for training, dedicated changing rooms, and fitness equipment in the Lavinia Norfolk Centre accessible to the broader school community.

The Year 7 football team reached the U12 Sussex Schools County Shield Final in 2024, defeating St Catherines 8-4 in the semi-finals. The school produces notable sporting alumni, including Dino Lamb, who plays professional rugby for Harlequins.

Sports clubs operate on a half-termly carousel system, rotating offerings throughout the year to expose students to different activities.

Performing Arts

The Drama department offers clubs including KS3 Drama Club for Years 7 to 9, Angmering Connections for Years 9 to 11, and Musical Theatre Club open to all year groups. The curriculum covers theatrical practitioners including Brecht, Stanislavski, and Artaud, with regular productions at Christmas and summer.

Music provision includes the Vocalise vocal ensemble, Blue Monkeys jazz band, and Band Shack, a dedicated space where student bands can rehearse. Peripatetic lessons cover drum kit, electric guitar, woodwind, strings, keyboard, DJing, piano, brass, and voice. The school holds Arts Mark Gold certification, recognising commitment to arts education.

Dance

The Dance Live team, comprising nearly 100 students, competes at regional level. A recent piece titled The Atta Girls, based on the women of the Air Transport Auxiliary, was performed at Portsmouth Guildhall Theatre. Dancemering, an external dance school, operates from studios on the school site, offering additional classes in ballet, tap, modern jazz, freestyle, street dance, contemporary, musical theatre, and singing.

Other Activities

Chess tournaments feature in the calendar, with the school hosting events involving Ardingly College, Dorset House School, and Brighton College. The library operates a student assistant programme, and careers guidance includes work experience placements arranged through the school.

Sixth form students participate in charity initiatives, including Charity Week events featuring egg hunts, bake sales, and activity carousels for younger year groups.

The school day runs from 8:45am to 3:15pm. The timetable includes five periods, a twenty-minute break, a forty-minute lunch, and the daily Drop Everything and Read session.

The school is located at Station Road, Angmering, West Sussex, BN16 4HH. The nearest railway station is Angmering, on the West Coastway Line between Brighton and Portsmouth, approximately a fifteen-minute walk from the school. Bus services connect to Littlehampton, Worthing, and surrounding villages.

Term dates for 2025/26 follow the West Sussex standard pattern, with INSET days on 3rd and 26th September 2025, 28th November 2025, 5th January 2026, and 22nd June 2026.

Below-average headline results. The Progress 8 score of -0.42 and GCSE Attainment 8 of 39.3 sit below England averages. Families prioritising top-tier academic outcomes may find the statistics concerning. However, these figures reflect a genuinely comprehensive intake and the inclusion of students with complex additional needs.

Coastal location. Angmering is pleasant but not metropolitan. Families from further afield should factor in travel times, particularly for sixth form students attending open mornings or evening events.

Oversubscribed without a catchment. With nearly two applications per place and allocation by distance, families cannot assume a place. Living close to Station Road provides the best chance of entry, but distances vary annually based on applicant distribution.

Sixth form results below average. The A*-B rate of 35.1% compares to an England average of 47.2%. While individual students achieve excellent outcomes, families considering sixth form options should weigh these figures against the strong pastoral support and vocational pathway availability.

The Angmering School delivers on its promise of a genuinely comprehensive education, one that values every student regardless of academic starting point or additional need. The Lavinia Norfolk Centre represents a unique asset, creating an inclusive culture that benefits the entire community. Academic results sit below England averages, but the school demonstrates clear improvement trajectory and produces individual success stories that challenge any assumption about comprehensive school limitations.

Best suited to families in the Angmering area who value pastoral care, inclusive values, and diverse pathways over headline league table positions. Those with children who have physical or sensory impairments will find nationally recognised specialist support rarely available in mainstream settings. The main challenge remains securing a place in an oversubscribed school without a formal catchment boundary. Families within walking distance of Station Road are best positioned to benefit from what this improving coastal comprehensive offers.