SchoolScoresFordwater School, Chichester
Special school · All-through, ages 2 to 19 · Mixed · Nursery class · Sixth form
Summersdale Road, Chichester, PO19 6PP
01243 782475 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 16 January 2013.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 4 July 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good and may be improving, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
6 pupils in this year group.
Only 6 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
0% — 60 points below the West Sussex average, and 62 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 0% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 0% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 0% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 104 | 105 |
"Not published": No figure published.
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
4 pupils in this year group.
Only 4 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
| Measure | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | Not published | 94% | 92% |
| School sixth form | Not published | 26% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | Not published | 20% | 13% |
| Further education college | Not published | 41% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | Not published | 2% | 3% |
| Work | Not published | 3% | 3% |
"Not published": Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 83% | Not published |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in West Sussex. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Severe learning difficulties.
| Pupils | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 37.1% | 39.1%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 99.9%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 0.1%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 11.9% | 10.7%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 11.6% | 11.3%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 39.1% | 34.7%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 5.5 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 0.0% | 3.6% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.09% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 6.7 | 7.0 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 7.6% | 11.4%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby special schools
- St Anthony's School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Fordwater School, Chichester's Ofsted rating?
Fordwater School, Chichester was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 16 January 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 4 July 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good and may be improving, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 126163.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.