Blatchington Mill School
99%
Capacity
1,635
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About Blatchington Mill School
Blatchington Mill School’s Progress 8 score of 0.3 sits well above the Brighton and Hove local authority average of 0.05, placing it fourth out of ten secondary schools in the area. That puts the school in the top 40% locally and in the top 27% nationally, a strong showing for a large 11-16 state mixed comprehensive. The school is also oversubscribed by a factor of 2.54, with 819 applications for 322 places in the 2025/26 intake, and 236 of those offers went to first-preference applicants. With 20.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake, and its above-average progress suggests it’s adding real value for students across the board.
Academically, the school’s Attainment 8 score of 52.4 is solid, and 79.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 61.3% reaching the higher grade 5 threshold. The EBacc average point score sits at 4.78, and 53% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. Progress is consistently positive across the board: English progress is 0.23, maths 0.28, and the EBacc subjects 0.36. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management, and the ungraded inspection that year confirmed it remains Good. That’s a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2013, when it was rated Requires Improvement.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, sports hall, astro turf, and science labs, plus clubs from orchestra and choir to DofE and eco club. Sports on offer include football, rugby, rowing, and netball. SEND provision covers seven areas including autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, and speech and language needs. There is no sixth form or nursery provision, and the school is not a boarding school. For families in Brighton and Hove looking for a large, inclusive secondary that delivers above-average academic progress and is popular enough to be heavily oversubscribed, Blatchington Mill is a strong contender, particularly for those who value a broad extracurricular offer alongside solid exam results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Nevill Avenue, Hove, Brighton and Hove, BN3 7BW |
| Headteacher | Kate Claydon |
| Local Authority | Brighton and Hove |
| Number of Pupils | 1,635 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 20.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,635 / 1,650 (99% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
23 Feb 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (23 Feb 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 1 Mar 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.30)
829th of 3,141
Nationally
128th of 461
In South East
4th of 10
In Brighton and Hove
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed322
819
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
250 families put this school as their 1st choice (31% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British64.5%
- Mixed14.4%
- White (other)9.1%
- Asian5.5%
- Black0.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
10
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
7
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blatchington Mill School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Nevill Avenue, Hove
Brighton and Hove, BN3 7BW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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