Weald School, The
98%
Capacity
1,784
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Weald School, The
Weald School is a large secondary in Horsham, operating very close to its capacity of 1,812 pupils with 1,784 on roll. Its proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 12.8%, a figure that sits below the national average for secondary schools and suggests a relatively advantaged intake compared with many state schools nationally. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 591 applications for 301 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.96. Of those, 312 families put Weald as their first preference, and 289 first-preference offers were made, indicating that while the school is popular, a significant number of first-choice applicants were still turned away. The school is non-denominational and mixed, drawing from a wide area across West Sussex. Its size means it can offer a breadth of provision that smaller secondaries cannot, and the pupil-teacher ratio implied by its numbers suggests a busy but well-resourced environment.
Academically, Weald performs well above the local authority average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.44 is significantly higher than the West Sussex average of 0.03, placing the school in the top 25% nationally and first among five schools in the Horsham local area ranking. Attainment 8 sits at 51.2, and 75.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school's EBacc entry rate is 34.5%, with 29.7% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the school's value-added score of 0.14 is rated above average, with students averaging a B- grade across their best three A-levels and 25.8% achieving at least AAB. The sixth form was judged Outstanding by Ofsted in the most recent inspection, while the main school was rated Good overall, with behaviour and attitudes also judged Outstanding. The school's previous inspection in 2013 rated it Outstanding across the board, so the current Good rating represents a measured step back in some areas, though the sixth form has maintained its top grade.
Parents are overwhelmingly positive: 87% would recommend the school, and 97% agree or strongly agree that their child can take part in clubs and activities. The school offers a wide range of extracurricular options, including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, debating, coding, and a newspaper club, alongside sports such as netball, hockey, and swimming. Facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and a sixth form centre. The school has a broad SEND offer, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, and autistic spectrum disorder, among others. With an oversubscription ratio of nearly 2:1, families should be prepared for a competitive admissions process. Weald suits families who want a large, high-performing comprehensive with a strong sixth form, good behaviour, and plenty of enrichment, but who are comfortable with a school that is no longer rated Outstanding overall.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Station Road, Billingshurst, Horsham, RH14 9RY |
| Headteacher | Sarah Edwards |
| Local Authority | West Sussex |
| Number of Pupils | 1,784 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,784 / 1,812 (98% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Oct 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Dec 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.44)
579th of 3,141
Nationally
97th of 461
In South East
1st of 5
In Horsham
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
39.4
'22/23
40.0
'23/24
36.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2340%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 272 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)40%
- Sixth form college25%
- FE college25%
- Not sustained3%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Employment2%
95% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2345%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 166 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
19%
Russell Group
19%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)45%
- Employment32%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Not sustained7%
- Further education4%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics30
- History26
- Business Studies:Single25
- Psychology23
- Biology20
- Sociology19
- Geography16
- Economics14
- Art and Design (Photography)13
- Chemistry12
- English Language11
- English Literature11
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
347 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed301
591
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
312 families put this school as their 1st choice (53% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.3%
- White (other)3.4%
- Mixed3.2%
- Asian1.5%
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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
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.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Weald School, The
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
Station Road, Billingshurst
Horsham, RH14 9RY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Weald School, The!
Write a Review