SchoolScoresThomas Bennett Community College
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of THE KEMNAL ACADEMIES TRUST
Ashdown Drive, Tilgate, Crawley, RH10 5AD
01293 526255 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 October 2022.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
176 pupils in this year group.
22% — 24 points below the West Sussex average, and 23 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 22% | 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. | 33.1 | 46.2 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 2.9 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
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.
188 pupils in this year group.
87% — 7 points below the West Sussex average, and 5 points below the England average.
| 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. | 87% | 94% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 30% | 26% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 10% | 20% | 13% |
| Further education college | 34% | 41% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 2% | 3% |
| Work | 9% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 93% | 87% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
35 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | D+ | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 9% | 25% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 18% | 52% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 24.2 | 34.0 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
12 subjects, 67 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Media/Film/Tv Studies | 12 | 0% | 0% | 14% |
| History | 11 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 9 | 0% | 11% | 40% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Drama and Theatre Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Chemistry, English Literature, Geography, Biology, Physics, Art and Design.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After sixth form
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
87 students in this year group.
80% — 2 points above the West Sussex average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 80% | 78% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 6% | 7% |
| Work | 37% | 38% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 79% | 80% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Going on to university
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
67 students in this year group.
45% — 9 points below the West Sussex average, and 15 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 45% | 54% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 1% | 14% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 65% | 45% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 205 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 103 |
| Of those, offered a place | 103 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 292 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.6 · 2025: 0.4 · 2026: 0.5
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools in Crawley. Higher than 73% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 37.8% | 17.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Crawley. Higher than 54% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.1% | 3.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Crawley. Higher than 33% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.6% | 16.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Crawley. Higher than 78% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 28.8% | 11.6%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 6th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Crawley. Lower than 11% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 11.6% | 8.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Crawley. Lower than 14% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 32.1% | 23.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 7th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Crawley. Lower than 8% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 60.8 | 16.2 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 7th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Crawley. Lower than 14% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.7% | 5.9% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded7 pupils | 0.55% | 0.17% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools in Crawley. Higher than 100% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 28.4 | 17.0 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools in Crawley. Higher than 99% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 18.2 | 11.5 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools in Crawley. Higher than 100% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 65.9% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Atelier21 Future School 0.3 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Holy Trinity CofE Secondary School, Crawley 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 35% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Wilfrid's Catholic Comprehensive School, Crawley 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- Cottesmore School 1.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Oriel High School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 43% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ifield Community College 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 22% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hazelwick School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- Brighton College Prep Handcross 2.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- The Gatwick School 3.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Thomas Bennett Community College's Ofsted rating?
Thomas Bennett Community College was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 October 2022.
How did Thomas Bennett Community College 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%.
Is Thomas Bennett Community College oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 103 families put Thomas Bennett Community College as their first choice for 205 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 103 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 138620.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.