Patcham High School
98%
Capacity
1,099
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About Patcham High School
Patcham High School is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for 11-16 year olds in Brighton and Hove, and it is a school in high demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 455 applications for 208 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.19. Of those, 153 families put it as their first preference, and 153 first-preference offers were made, meaning every first-choice applicant secured a spot. The school is currently operating very close to its capacity of 1,125, with 1,099 pupils on roll. Its intake reflects the local community: 23.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and suggests the school serves a relatively disadvantaged catchment. Patcham is one of 12 state secondaries in Brighton and Hove, and it ranks 9th in the local authority by Progress 8 score, placing it in the bottom half locally.
Academically, Patcham's results are mixed. In the 2023/24 exams, its Progress 8 score was -0.45, which is below the local authority average of 0.05 and places the school in the bottom 50 nationally. This means that, on average, pupils achieved nearly half a grade less per subject than pupils with similar starting points across England. The Attainment 8 score was 44, and 62.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though this dropped to 45.7% at grade 5 or above. The school's EBacc entry rate is high at 68.3%, but the EBacc average point score was 4.24. In its most recent graded inspection in 2017, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, and an ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains Good. Leadership and management, and behaviour and attitudes, were both rated Good in the 2017 inspection.
Patcham offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, playing fields, and a sports hall, with sports on offer such as rowing, rugby, and hockey. There is a strong set of SEND provisions covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication, hearing impairment, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school has no sixth form, so pupils must plan for post-16 options elsewhere. Extracurricular options include the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, coding, gardening, and an orchestra. This is a school that suits families looking for a genuinely comprehensive intake with strong SEND support, but who are realistic about academic outcomes that are below the local average. The high oversubscription rate suggests it is a popular choice locally, particularly for those who prioritise a stable, Good-rated environment over top-tier exam results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Ladies Mile Road, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, BN1 8PB |
| Headteacher | John McKee |
| Local Authority | Brighton and Hove |
| Number of Pupils | 1,099 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 23.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,099 / 1,125 (98% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Apr 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (19 Apr 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 6 Dec 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.45)
2534th of 3,141
Nationally
366th of 461
In South East
9th of 10
In Brighton and Hove
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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
2022/232%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 207 pupils).
- Sixth form college57%
- FE college22%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Not sustained6%
- School sixth form (stay)2%
- Employment2%
92% 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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed208
455
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
153 families put this school as their 1st choice (34% 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.
Better than half of schools in England.
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 British81.1%
- Mixed8.0%
- White (other)3.7%
- Asian3.6%
- Black0.1%
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.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
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
6
Oversubscribed
4
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 Patcham High 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
Ladies Mile Road, Brighton
Brighton and Hove, BN1 8PB
Ladies Mile Road, Brighton
Brighton and Hove, BN1 8PB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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