Cornfield School, Littlehampton, Littlehampton
Cornfield School, Littlehampton is a special school for boys aged 8 to 16 in Littlehampton. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2026, ended in a report card: 3 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2016.
- Ofsted report card
- 3 areas need attention
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Cornfield School, Littlehampton in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 20 January 2026 inspection grades Cornfield School, Littlehampton on 6 areas: 3 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise attendance."
Inclusion - Expected standard. "Staff know pupils well."
Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school ensures that the curriculum extends far beyond the classroom."
Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' progress through the curriculum is variable."
Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders know that the curriculum is not currently effective enough."
Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "The school rightly identifies that governance needs strengthening."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that staff have what they need to gain a more accurate and precise knowledge of pupils' starting points to enable them to better shape the curriculum to meet pupils' changing needs and successfully address gaps in pupils' academic learning, particularly their foundational skills and knowledge. • The school should ensure that all pupils have access to appropriate careers advice that provides them with a broad understanding of all the next steps available to them. • Leaders should continue their work to strengthen the governing body and ensure that governors have appropriate knowledge to offer greater levels of support and challenge to the school".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
What parents say
10 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Cornfield School, Littlehampton (as of April 2026): 60% would recommend the school, 70% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (70%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (50%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 9 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 56% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 56% to a further education college and 11% into work.
Who goes there
69.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Cornfield School, Littlehampton has an education, health and care plan (83 of 83 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Cornfield School, Littlehampton provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Littlehampton Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 301 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in West Sussex (103), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Cornfield School, Littlehampton issued 41 suspensions, 51.9 for every 100 pupils, and 2 permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; 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 · 9 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- InclusionExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- AchievementNeeds attention
- Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
- Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Cornfield School, Littlehampton
Pupils are proud to attend Cornfield. Many arrive with historic negative attitudes to education. The school works hard to break these barriers down quickly. Pupils develop strategies to manage their behaviour and to express how they feel in a positive manner. This means that pupils build strong relationships with staff. Pupils trust staff deeply and know that they will help them to deal with any issues they have effectively. As a result of this work, pupils feel safe and happy in school. This also helps pupils to behave very well. Staff know the pupils well. They use this knowledge to identify quickly pupils who may need additional help to manage their behaviour. Pupils respond positively to this and return to learning quickly. The school is a calm and respectful environment. This helps pupils to become increasingly confident and independent. The school ensures that pupils have the skills they need to be ready to learn. This helps them to concentrate well and work hard. Older pupils are typically well-prepared for their next steps. They achieve a wide range of qualifications and have a broad experience of the world of work. This supports them to be successful in their next steps after school. However, some younger pupils arrive with significant gaps in learning, and, while the school has begun to address this, it is too early to show the impact of this work. As a result, these pupils do not achieve as well as they could. Pupils enjoy school. They benefit from high levels of care. Pupils enjoy the wide range of activities that the school offers. For example, pupils broaden their skills and talents through well-planned enrichment activities. Pupils are keen to discuss these exciting experiences. They benefit positively from these opportunities, and this equips pupils well for life beyond school.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- • Leaders should ensure that staff have what they need to gain a more accurate and precise knowledge of pupils' starting points to enable them to better shape the curriculum to meet pupils' changing needs and successfully address gaps in pupils' academic learning, particularly their foundational skills and knowledge. • The school should ensure that all pupils have access to appropriate careers advice that provides them with a broad understanding of all the next steps available to them. • Leaders should continue their work to strengthen the governing body and ensure that governors have appropriate knowledge to offer greater levels of support and challenge to the school.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 20 January 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Cornfield School excels at creating a calm, caring environment where pupils who have previously struggled with education develop confidence and positive relationships with staff. The school provides excellent support for pupils' emotional wellbeing and behaviour, with a significant reduction in serious incidents. Pupils enjoy a rich enrichment offer including outdoor learning, trips and clubs that help them develop a broader range of skills and prepare them well for their next steps.
Key Strengths
- Excellent behaviour and attendance - pupils show positive attitudes and the school has achieved a significant rise in attendance figures
- Strong safeguarding culture - leaders and staff prioritise pupil safety with an open approach where concerns are actively identified and managed
- Effective pastoral support and inclusion - staff know pupils well and successfully support their social, emotional and mental health needs
- Well-designed enrichment programme - extensive clubs, trips, outdoor learning and activities that engage pupils and broaden their skills
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum weaknesses in reading, writing and mathematics - too many younger pupils lack basic skills and do not progress as well as they should
- Teachers do not consider pupils' starting points effectively - activities are not always matched to what pupils already know
- Governance needs strengthening - governors lack detailed knowledge of school operations and pupil premium strategy impact
- Careers advice lacks structure - while careers education is good, the advice pupils receive needs to be more impactful
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Outdoor learning activities, enrichment clubs, focus days, work experience, school council, trips
Cornfield School is a special school in Littlehampton that has created a calm, purposeful environment where pupils feel safe and develop positive attitudes to learning. However, the school needs to strengthen its curriculum, particularly in reading, writing and mathematics for younger pupils.
At a Glance
69.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
10 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Writing has improved from 0% to 13% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Cornfield School, Littlehampton
Before and after school care
Cornfield School, Littlehampton is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in West Sussex
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Cornfield School, Littlehampton from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Cornfield School, Littlehampton 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)
- Collisions
- 25
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 10
- Children hurt
- 9
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 15 slight.
9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
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
115%
Over capacity
83 pupils
72 places
11 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Littlehampton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Littlehampton
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(12)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
83
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Cornfield School, Littlehampton 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
83
Total Pupils
83
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
4.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,174
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
24.9%
Overall absence
61.4%
Persistent absence
88
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Cornfield School, Littlehampton
Questions parents ask about Cornfield School, Littlehampton
What are GCSE results like at Cornfield School, Littlehampton?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Cornfield School, Littlehampton achieved an Attainment 8 score of 5.8. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Cornfield School, Littlehampton's Ofsted rating?
Cornfield School, Littlehampton's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Cornfield School, Littlehampton?
No fixed boundary. When Cornfield School, Littlehampton is oversubscribed, West Sussex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Cornfield School, Littlehampton?
Cornfield School, Littlehampton has around 83 pupils on roll. 70% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Cornfield School, Littlehampton have specialist SEN provision?
Cornfield School, Littlehampton provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Cornfield School, Littlehampton?
24.9% of sessions were missed at Cornfield School, Littlehampton in 2024/25. 61.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Cornfield School, Littlehampton?
Apply through West Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming Cornfield School, Littlehampton 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.
Does Cornfield School, Littlehampton have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Cornfield School, Littlehampton is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Cornfield School, Littlehampton?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 15 slight. 9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in West Sussex is 11 (the median across 337 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Cornfield School, Littlehampton?
Cornfield School, Littlehampton is at Cornfield Close, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 6HY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)