Schools by area › West Sussex › St Philip Howard Catholic School
St Philip Howard Catholic School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Elm Grove South, Barnham, Bognor Regis PO22 0EN · sphcs.co.uk · 01243 552055
On the mapSearch near PO22 0EN
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Apr 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 52.5
- average Attainment 8 score. West Sussex 46.2, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 3.38 mi
- 5.45 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Criteria 12 · West Sussex Council
- Demand for places
- 1.3
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,322
- 289 over 1,033 places · 128%
- Local authority
- West Sussex
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 11.9%
- First language not English
- 18.3%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Criteria 12” went to a home 3.38 mi (5.45 km) from the school. Source: West Sussex Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 257 families put the school first and 203 places were offered; 76% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 203 | 257 | 1.3▲ | 76% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 206 | 244 | 1.2▲ | 78% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 181 | 254 | 1.4▲ | 70% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 174 | 258 | 1.5▲ | 64% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 180 | 278 | 1.5▲ | 65% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 – Criteria 12 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 3.38 mi5.45 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 52.5, and 47.6% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across West Sussex it was 46.2, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (35.2 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲52.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲47.6% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲73.6% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲61.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.82 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 126102)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 71.3 | +21.6 |
| Sixth form college | 1.1 | −1 |
| Further education | 20.8 | −17.8 |
| Other education | 0.6 | −1.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.8 | +2.3 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 1.1 | −2.6 |
| Activity not captured | 2.2 | +1.1 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 138 students | B- (35.2) | Above average +0.15 | |
| 139 students | B- (35.3) | Above average +0.16 | |
| 37 students | Dist- (31.1) | Average +0.23 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 110 | B- (37.7) | +0.15 |
| 2022/23 | 90 | B- (35.7) | — |
| 2021/22 | 77 | B (40.9) | — |
| 2018/19 | 112 | C (30.6) | +0.21 |
| 2017/18 | 103 | C+ (34.2) | +0.25 |
| 2016/17 | 79 | C (31.5) | +0.03 |
| 2015/16 | 104 | C (30.7) | +0.05 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 47 | +0.1 |
| Further and other education | 4.3 | −3.1 |
| Further education | 0.9 | −0.3 |
| Other education | 3.5 | −2.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 6.1 | +1.2 |
| Employment | 38.3 | +11.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.5 | −2.7 |
| Activity not captured | 0.9 | −6.5 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected St Philip Howard Catholic School on 14 April 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard
- Achievement: Strong standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Post-16 provision: Strong standard
- Leadership and governance: Strong standard
- Inspected
- 14 Apr 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Strong standard |
| Achievement | Strong standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Post-16 provision | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
Previously: Remains Outstanding, ungraded inspection, Oct 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Oct 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Outstanding
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Apr 2016Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding 16 to 19 study programmes Outstanding Safeguarding Effective Sept 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
98% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (229 replies, to 5 September 2022).
- Recommend
- 98%
- Replies
- 229
- 20% · 5 Sept 2022
based on the 73% who raised concerns
based on the 22% who had a child bullied
based on 34 parents (15%) with SEND