Brantridge School, Haywards Heath
Brantridge School is a special school for boys aged 6 to 11 in Haywards Heath, part of Orchard Hill College Academy Trust. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, ended in a report card: 1 exceptional and 5 strong standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2022.
- Ofsted report card
- 6 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Brantridge School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Brantridge School on 6 areas: 1 exceptional and 5 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Attendance and behaviour - Exceptional. "The work of leaders and staff around attendance and behaviour ensures that all pupils live up to the high expectations the school has for them."
Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils across the school, with diverse starting points and needs, make solid progress through the planned curriculum."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have a detailed understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching across the school."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders swiftly identify pupils' special educational needs and/or disabilities."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders across the school are knowledgeable about their pupils and understand how their role contributes to improved outcomes."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have established a comprehensive, well-thought-out programme of personal development across the school."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should draw on their experience of the transformational practice they have already established around attendance and behaviour at the school to ensure that their actions continue to have a highly positive and transformational impact in all areas of their work".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
The trust
Brantridge School is one of 13 schools run by Orchard Hill College Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
43.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 3.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (86%) and Mixed (11%).
Almost every pupil at Brantridge School has an education, health and care plan (80 of 80 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Brantridge School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Balcombe Rail Station, about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Jolly Tanners (opposite), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often public order offences and other crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Sussex (103).
Suspensions and exclusions
Brantridge School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- Attendance and behaviourExceptional
- AchievementStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Brantridge School
Pupils want to attend school because they know they will be very well supported to be happy and to achieve. They are welcomed into school each day by kind and caring staff who know them very well. Pupils speak enthusiastically about their work. They talk with pride about what they have learned during their time at school. Pupils thrive at the school. As soon as pupils join the school, staff get to know them well. They are supported to become valued members of the school community. Across the school, pupils who need additional support receive the help they need in a timely and effective way. A carefully considered and well-taught curriculum helps all pupils to achieve well from their starting points. The school's highly inclusive culture allows all pupils to feel they belong and experience success. Pupils demonstrate highly positive attitudes to learning, each other and staff. Pupils say the school is a safe and happy place to be. They know that staff will support them if they need help or are worried about something. Leaders and staff enable pupils to feel included, enjoy learning and achieve well at school, often for the first time. This means pupils want to attend school, and there is very high attendance for all pupils. The school is successful in its mission to enable pupils to become resilient, confident, self-regulating and ready to access the next stage of life. The school provides opportunities for pupils to develop a sense of being part of the wider community. This is enriched by participating in sporting competitions, visits to places of interest and involvement in events in the local village and beyond. This helps pupils to learn about and contribute to the world around them. It prepares pupils well for the next steps in their education and life in modern Britain.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should draw on their experience of the transformational practice they have already established around attendance and behaviour at the school to ensure that their actions continue to have a highly positive and transformational impact in all areas of their work.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 19 May 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Brantridge School excels at helping every child feel valued and achieve success, often for the first time. The caring staff build strong relationships with pupils and provide highly responsive teaching tailored to individual needs. The school's commitment to inclusion means all pupils, regardless of their starting point, thrive in a safe, happy environment where they want to attend every day.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding attendance and behaviour - pupils are highly motivated to attend school every day, demonstrating calm, respectful conduct and strong self-discipline
- Excellent teaching, particularly in reading, writing and maths, which enables pupils with diverse needs to make solid progress from their starting points
- Highly inclusive culture where pupils with special educational needs are swiftly identified and receive targeted, effective support
- Strong relationships built on care, trust and respect between staff and pupils
- Comprehensive personal development programme that builds pupil confidence, resilience and understanding of wellbeing
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met, with leaders creating an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
School sports teams, sports events, school clubs, educational visits, community learning experiences
Brantridge School is an exceptional school where all pupils thrive in a highly inclusive, supportive environment. Leaders and staff ensure pupils achieve well, feel safe, and develop the resilience and skills needed for their next steps.
At a Glance
43.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 0% to 40% (2024 to 2025), while maths has improved from 0% to 20% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Brantridge School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Brantridge School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Brantridge School is in West Sussex; for families living there:
Apply to West Sussex for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in West Sussex is 11 (the median across 337 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
148%
Over capacity
80 pupils
54 places
26 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Haywards Heath
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Haywards Heath
Across West Sussex council
Places available
9,806
Applications
8,765
Got 1st preference
87.5%
Got preferred school
97.6%
All secondary applications across West Sussex council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
80
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Brantridge School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
80
Total Pupils
80
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
5.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,024
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.5%
Overall absence
25.6%
Persistent absence
78
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Brantridge School
What are SATs results like at Brantridge School?
Of the pupils at Brantridge School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 40% reached the expected standard in reading and 20% did so in maths.
What is Brantridge School's Ofsted rating?
Brantridge School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2022, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Brantridge School?
No fixed boundary. When Brantridge School is oversubscribed, West Sussex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Brantridge School?
Brantridge School has around 80 pupils on roll. 44% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Brantridge School have specialist SEN provision?
Brantridge School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Brantridge School?
7.5% of sessions were missed at Brantridge School in 2024/25. 25.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Brantridge School?
Apply through West Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming Brantridge School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Brantridge School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in West Sussex is 11 (the median across 337 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Brantridge School?
Brantridge School is at Staplefield Place, Staplefield, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6EQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)