SchoolScoresWarden Park Secondary Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of SUSSEX LEARNING TRUST
Broad Street, Cuckfield, Haywards Heath, RH17 5DP
01444 457881 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 2 June 2026 , published 8 July 2026.
In short: 4 strong, 2 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
292 pupils in this year group.
58% — 12 points above the West Sussex average, and 13 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 58% | 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. | 52.4 | 46.2 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.6 | 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.
290 pupils in this year group.
95% — about the same as the West Sussex average, and 3 points above 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. | 95% | 94% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 4% | 26% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 52% | 20% | 13% |
| Further education college | 31% | 41% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 2% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 97% | 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 one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 322 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 350 |
| Of those, offered a place | 295 (84%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 821 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.1
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 resourced provision and a SEN unit with 51 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia). 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 36th highest of 40 state secondary schools in West Sussex. Higher than 9% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.5% | 17.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 8th highest of 40 state secondary schools in West Sussex. Higher than 78% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.4% | 3.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 28th highest of 40 state secondary schools in West Sussex. Higher than 60% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 15.2% | 16.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language Joint 21st highest of 40 state secondary schools in West Sussex. Higher than 37% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.9% | 11.6%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 11th lowest of 40 state secondary schools in West Sussex. Lower than 61% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.7% | 8.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 12th lowest of 40 state secondary schools in West Sussex. Lower than 65% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 20.4% | 23.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 40 state secondary schools in West Sussex. Lower than 87% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 3.9 | 16.2 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 40 state secondary schools in West Sussex. Lower than 89% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 2.2% | 5.9% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.17% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 23rd highest of 40 state secondary schools in West Sussex. Higher than 43% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.5 | 17.0 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 22nd highest of 40 state secondary schools in West Sussex. Higher than 40% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.4 | 11.5 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 36th highest of 40 state secondary schools in West Sussex. Higher than 5% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 5.2% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Oathall Community College 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Paul's Catholic College 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 64% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Warden Park Secondary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Warden Park Secondary Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 2 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 4 strong, 2 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did Warden Park Secondary Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 58% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 13 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Warden Park Secondary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 350 families put Warden Park Secondary Academy as their first choice for 322 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 295 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 137416.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 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.