⌘ K
Overview
SCHOOL PROFILE

The Forest School

Secondary Academy converter URN 151923
Open
Pupils 8,834,192 Latest school census
Capacity 1,140 Published school capacity
Capacity used 97.8% Pupils as a share of capacity
Age range 11 – 16 Statutory age range
OFSTED

Latest ungraded inspection

26 January 2022
Latest published outcome School remains Good
Published 22 March 2022 View Ofsted record
SCHOOL DETAILS

About this school

School type Academy converter
Phase Secondary
Gender Mixed
Religious character Does not apply
Local authority West Sussex
Trust HORSHAM LEARNING ALLIANCE
Census date 15 January 2026
PUPIL PROFILE

School community

Latest published pupil characteristics for 2025/26.

2025/26
Total pupils 1,115 1,115 full-time · 0 part-time
Female pupils 368 33.0% of pupils
Male pupils 747 67.0% of pupils

Free school meals

Pupils eligible for free school meals.

12.7%
12.1 pts below England
School 12.7%
Horsham 9.9%
South East 19.0%
England 24.8%

English as an additional language

Pupils whose first language is not English.

11.0%
9.3 pts below England
School 11.0%
Horsham 7.5%
South East 15.6%
England 20.3%

Young carers

Pupils recorded as young carers.

1.0%
0.0 pts in line with England
School 1.0%
Horsham 1.1%
South East 1.7%
England 1.0%

Ethnicity

Largest recorded pupil groups.

White British
79.3%
884
Any other Mixed background
4.5%
50
Any other White background
3.9%
43
Unclassified
2.3%
26
White and Asian
2.2%
24
Any other Asian background
1.6%
18
Council, regional and national comparisons are pupil-weighted using published school census counts.
ADDITIONAL NEEDS

Special educational needs

Pupils receiving SEN support or with an education, health and care plan.

2025/26
Pupils with SEN 22.0% 245 of 1,115 pupils
1.1 pts above England England: 20.8%
School 22.0%
Horsham 23.1%
South East 21.1%
England 20.8%
SEN support 19.3% 215 pupils
England 14.8% 4.5 pts above
EHC plans 2.7% 30 pupils
England 6.0% 3.3 pts below
PRIMARY NEEDS

Most common identified needs

Pupils
Specific learning difficulty 112
Social, emotional & mental health 52
Autistic spectrum disorder 31
Speech, language & communication 25
Moderate learning difficulty 8
Physical disability 6

SEN comparisons are pupil-weighted using published 2025/26 Department for Education school-level data. Primary needs combine pupils receiving SEN support and pupils with EHC plans.

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

School context

Comparison with open secondary schools.

CAPACITY

Capacity utilisation

97.8% 5.5 pts above England
The Forest School
97.8%
Horsham
94.5%
South East
95.0%
England
92.3%
Benchmarks use open schools in the same phase. Capacity utilisation is calculated from published pupil and capacity figures.
Sources: Department for Education · Get Information about Schools · Ofsted monthly management information