Schools by area › West Sussex › The Forest School
The Forest School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Comptons Lane, Horsham RH13 5NT · theforestschool.com · 01403 261086
On the mapSearch near RH13 5NT
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jan 2022
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 47
- average Attainment 8 score. West Sussex 46.2, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 2.49 mi
- 4.01 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Criteria 4c · West Sussex Council
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,115
- 98% of 1,140 places
- Local authority
- West Sussex
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 12.7%
- First language not English
- 11%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Criteria 4c” went to a home 2.49 mi (4.01 km) from the school. Source: West Sussex Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 204 families put the school first and 216 places were offered; 91% 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 | 216 | 204 | 0.9 | 91% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 234 | 231 | 1 | 94% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 234 | 283 | 1.2▲ | 77% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 223 | 191 | 0.9 | 90% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 226 | 153 | 0.7 | 100% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 – Criteria 4c | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 2.49 mi4.01 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 47, and 55.9% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across West Sussex it was 46.2, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●47 | 46 | ||
| ▲55.9% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲75.2% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼10.4% | 40.5% | ||
| ●3.98 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 126065)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 6.1 | +3.4 |
| Sixth form college | 55.8 | −8.3 |
| Further education | 25.4 | +6.3 |
| Other education | 0.6 | −0.3 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.9 | +0.3 |
| Employment | 2.8 | +0.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 2.2 | −1.9 |
| Activity not captured | 3.3 | +0.6 |
Published for the predecessor school (URN 126065)
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 26 January 2022, Ofsted’s outcome for The Forest School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 25 Jan 2022
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 126065)
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Mar 2017
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 126065), which Ofsted links to this one.
Before September 2019
Mar 2017Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 126065)
Nov 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 126065)