Davison Church of England High School for Girls, Worthing
98%
Capacity
1,328
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Davison Church of England High School for Girls, Worthing
Davison Church of England High School for Girls in Worthing is a popular choice for local families, and the numbers make that clear. The school has a capacity of 1,350 pupils and currently enrols 1,328, so it is running very close to full. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 495 applications for 269 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.84 applicants per place. Of those, 249 were first-preference offers, meaning the vast majority of successful applicants had it as their top choice. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 13.6%, which is slightly above the national average for secondary schools and suggests a genuinely mixed intake. As a girls-only, Church of England secondary for ages 11 to 16, it serves a specific niche in Worthing, and the demand indicates that families in the area see it as a strong option.
Academically, Davison performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.34 is rated as 'Above average' and compares very favourably to the West Sussex local authority average of 0.03. This means pupils here make significantly more progress than their peers across the county. The Attainment 8 score sits at 51.3, and 77.4% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, a strong benchmark for a non-selective state school. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024, the school was rated Outstanding across every category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is an upgrade from its previous Good rating in 2014. Nationally, Davison ranks in the top 25% of schools by Progress 8, and within Worthing it sits second out of six schools on the same measure.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including science labs, art studios, an astro turf pitch, tennis courts, a library, and a chapel. Sports provision is broad, with rowing, gymnastics, hockey, swimming, and dance among the options, while clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Young Enterprise, orchestra, and drama. Davison has a comprehensive SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is no sixth form or nursery provision, so pupils leave at 16. This school will suit families looking for a high-performing, oversubscribed girls' school with a strong academic record and a clear Christian character, where demand is high and places are competitive.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Selborne Road, Worthing, Worthing, BN11 2JX |
| Headteacher | Christopher Keating |
| Local Authority | West Sussex |
| Number of Pupils | 1,328 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,328 / 1,350 (98% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 Jun 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 15 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.34)
752nd of 3,141
Nationally
118th of 461
In South East
2nd of 6
In Worthing
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/235%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 254 pupils).
- FE college57%
- Sixth form college28%
- School sixth form (stay)5%
- Not sustained4%
- Employment3%
- Apprenticeship2%
96% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed269
495
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
249 families put this school as their 1st choice (50% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:20
Breakfast club
08:00-08:30
Source: davison.w-sussex.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British78.2%
- Mixed8.0%
- Asian4.9%
- White (other)4.7%
- Black0.4%
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.
8
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
5
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Davison Church of England High School for Girls, Worthing
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
Selborne Road, Worthing
Worthing, BN11 2JX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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