Longhill High School

Community school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Falmer Road, Rottingdean, Brighton, BN2 7FR

01273 304086 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedRequires improvementInspected 19 March 2024
Grade 5 or above in English and maths22%England 45% · 2024/25
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 5% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils632Room for 1,200 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 888 in 2019, 918 in 2021, 908 in 2022, 875 in 2023, 825 in 2024, 723 in 2025, 632 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.870 for 93 places, September 2026
5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 21% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 19 March 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
Personal developmentRequires improvement
Leadership and managementRequires improvement
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

149 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.

Brighton comparisons use the 3 of its 6 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 3 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolBrightonEngland
My child is happy at this school
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton.
Higher than 7% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
56% 77% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton.
Higher than 6% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
58% 79% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton.
Higher than 6% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
40% 69% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 75 parents whose child had been bullied
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton.
Higher than 3% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
21% 39% 50%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 130 parents who had raised a concern
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton.
Higher than 10% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
45% 64% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton.
Higher than 10% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
49%said yes 73% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Brighton figures pool parents at the Brighton schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

162 pupils in this year group.

22% — 26 points below the Brighton and Hove average, and 23 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolBrighton and HoveEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 22% 48% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 32.9 46.2 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 2.8 4.2 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 28%This school 2023/24: 27%This school 2024/25: 22% This school England 45% 2022/23 28% 2023/24 27% 2024/25 22%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 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.

164 pupils in this year group.

88% — 5 points below the Brighton and Hove average, and 4 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolBrighton and HoveEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 88% 93% 92%
School sixth form 0% 13% 34%
Sixth form college 43% 55% 13%
Further education college 36% 19% 37%
Apprenticeship 4% 2% 3%
Work 3% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%88%

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 Brighton and Hove. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered93
Families who put it first70
Of those, offered a place70 (100%)
Families who listed it at all146

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.8

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Brighton and Hove

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 14 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia). These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolBrighton and HoveEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
44.3% 27.0%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 62% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.5% 4.6%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 96% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
25.0% 19.6%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
Joint 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 35% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
7.5% 14.8%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
6th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Brighton.
Lower than 1% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
16.8% 10.7%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
6th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Brighton.
Lower than 0% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
48.0% 28.9%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
6th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Brighton.
Lower than 7% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
65.3 13.0 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
6th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Brighton.
Lower than 4% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
19.9% 5.9% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.01% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 76% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
18.1 17.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 10% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
9.7 11.7 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 90% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
24.2% 11.9%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * 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 secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Longhill High School's Ofsted rating?

Longhill High School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 19 March 2024.

How did Longhill High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 22% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 23 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Longhill High School?

49% of the 149 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Longhill High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Longhill High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 70 families put Longhill High School as their first choice for 93 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 70 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.