Tanbridge House School

Community school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Farthings Hill, Guildford Road, Horsham, RH12 1SR

01403 263628 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedOutstandingInspected 11 June 2024
Grade 5 or above in English and maths59%England 45% · 2024/25
1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Horsham.
Higher than 81% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,510Room for 1,500 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,546 in 2019, 1,534 in 2021, 1,529 in 2022, 1,525 in 2023, 1,508 in 2024, 1,524 in 2025, 1,510 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.2340 for 292 places, September 2026
2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Horsham.
Higher than 79% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 11 June 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 educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

360 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.

West Sussex comparisons use the 21 of its 41 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 20 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 schoolWest SussexEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 5th highest of 21 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in West Sussex.
Higher than 67% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
88% 81% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 4th highest of 21 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in West Sussex.
Higher than 71% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
91% 84% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
3rd highest of 21 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in West Sussex.
Higher than 78% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89% 76% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 128 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 4th highest of 21 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in West Sussex.
Higher than 74% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
58% 49% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 271 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 5th highest of 21 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in West Sussex.
Higher than 79% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
81% 72% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
3rd highest of 21 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in West Sussex.
Higher than 82% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
91%said yes 80% 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. West Sussex figures pool parents at the West Sussex 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

298 pupils in this year group.

59% — 14 points above the West Sussex average, and 14 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWest SussexEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 59% 46% 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. 54.2 46.2 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.7 4.1 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 68%This school 2023/24: 59%This school 2024/25: 59% This school England 45% 2022/23 68% 2023/24 59% 2024/25 59%

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.

327 pupils in this year group.

95% — about the same as the West Sussex average, and 3 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 67%17%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolWest SussexEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 95% 94% 92%
School sixth form 4% 26% 34%
Sixth form college 67% 20% 13%
Further education college 17% 41% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 2% 3%
Work 4% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%95%

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.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about 1 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered292
Families who put it first340
Of those, offered a place279 (82%)
Families who listed it at all775

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.2

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 West Sussex

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolWest SussexEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools in Horsham.
Higher than 7% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
10.0% 17.9%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools in Horsham.
Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.2% 3.2%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Horsham.
Higher than 96% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
25.0% 16.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools in Horsham.
Higher than 33% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.9% 11.6%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
1st lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Horsham.
Lower than 73% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.0% 8.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Horsham.
Lower than 77% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
17.6% 23.5%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
4th lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Horsham.
Lower than 52% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
13.9 16.2 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
2nd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Horsham.
Lower than 69% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.6% 5.9% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.13% 0.17% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Horsham.
Higher than 39% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.3 17.0 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Horsham.
Higher than 58% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.2 11.5 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools in Horsham.
Higher than 1% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
2.2% 12.0%* 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.

Nearby secondary schools

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

Questions parents ask

What is Tanbridge House School's Ofsted rating?

Tanbridge House School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 11 June 2024.

How did Tanbridge House School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 59% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 14 points above the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Tanbridge House School?

91% of the 360 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Tanbridge House School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Tanbridge House School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 340 families put Tanbridge House School as their first choice for 292 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 279 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.