Chichester College Group

About Chichester College Group

Chichester College Group sits in West Sussex as a large state sixth-form and further education college, but its secondary-level performance places it at the bottom of the local rankings. Among the 42 same-type schools in the local authority, it ranks 34th by Progress 8, and within the Chichester district specifically it comes 6th out of 6. The top-performing peers in the area are St Oscar Romero Catholic School, St Philip Howard Catholic School, and Shoreham Academy, all of which post significantly stronger Progress 8 scores. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Bishop Luffa School, just 0.8 km away. The college itself holds a Good rating from its most recent inspection in November 2024, with its sixth-form provision judged Outstanding — a distinction that sets it apart from its overall secondary rating. The college is non-denominational and co-educational, serving students from age 16 up to 99, with a capacity of 1,600 and a current free school meal rate of 27.7 per cent.

At Key Stage 4, the college’s Progress 8 score of -0.43 is well below the West Sussex average of 0.03, placing it in the bottom 50 nationally and in the 79th percentile nationally (meaning 79 per cent of schools perform better). Its Attainment 8 score is 40.8, and just 29.2 per cent of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is low at 22.4 per cent, with only 8 per cent achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above. At A-level, the picture is brighter: the college’s value-added score of 0.36 is rated Above average, with a progress banding to match. Students achieved an average of 33.73 points per entry, equivalent to a C+ grade, and 11.1 per cent of entries were at AAB or higher. The sixth-form provision was rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and the college’s leadership and management, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and personal development were all judged Good.

The college is oversubscribed for its 2025/26 secondary intake, with 415 applications for 167 places and 106 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.49. Facilities include a swimming pool, astro turf, sports hall, theatre, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. Sports on offer include rowing, hockey, and gymnastics, while clubs range from Model UN and Young Enterprise to coding and gardening. The college supports a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Parent View responses from 122 parents show 75 per cent would recommend the school, though opinions are mixed: 51 per cent strongly agree or agree that their child is happy, while 21 per cent strongly disagree or disagree. Concerns about SEND support are notable, with 40 per cent disagreeing that the school gives SEND children the support they need. This college suits families prioritising a strong sixth-form with proven value-added results, but who are aware that its GCSE outcomes lag behind local averages and top-performing peers.

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