Brockenhurst College

About Brockenhurst College

Brockenhurst College is a state-funded sixth-form and further education college in the New Forest, rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in 2015, with an ungraded inspection in October 2024 confirming that standards are maintained. The single most informative exam metric for the school is its Progress 8 score of -0.37, which places it in the 'Below average' banding nationally. This means that, on average, students achieve nearly four-tenths of a grade less per subject across eight GCSEs than pupils with similar starting points nationally. Within the New Forest local authority, the college ranks 6th out of 10 schools on this measure, placing it in the 60th percentile locally. Compared with the Hampshire LA average Progress 8 score of -0.17, Brockenhurst's result is notably lower, indicating that academic progress here is weaker than the typical school in the area.

Looking more closely at the breakdown, the college's Attainment 8 score sits at 44.3, and 63.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, though this drops to 40.8% for a grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.95, with 24.4% of students entering the EBacc combination of subjects. The Progress 8 figures reveal particular challenges in English, where the score is -0.55, and in open subjects at -0.48, while maths is closer to the national average at -0.21. Ofsted's leadership and management, as well as the overall effectiveness, were both judged Good in the 2015 graded inspection, and the 2024 ungraded visit found no decline. The school's parent view survey, based on 212 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, shows that 76% of parents would recommend the college, with 84% agreeing or strongly agreeing that their child is happy here.

The college serves students aged 16 to 99, with a school capacity of 1,080 and 14.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school was oversubscribed, receiving 253 applications for 203 places, with 174 first-preference offers made. Facilities include a theatre, art studios, music rooms, a sixth-form centre, science labs, a gymnasium, and a chapel, while sports on offer range from rowing and hockey to martial arts and tennis. Clubs include Model UN, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, coding, and eco club. The college lists a broad range of SEND provisions, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. However, the parent view data suggests some mixed feelings on SEND support: 49% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, while 44% disagreed or strongly disagreed. This school may suit families prioritising a wide age range and varied extracurricular offer, but those focused on strong academic progress relative to peers might want to explore higher-ranked options in the New Forest.

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