Fordwater School, Chichester, Chichester
Fordwater School, Chichester is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Chichester. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Fordwater School, Chichester in detail
Fordwater School, Chichester in its own words
In its own words: "Collectively as a community involving staff, pupils and our families, our Vision Statement reflects the most integral aspects of Fordwater and the future focus for our school. We deliver our vision through our values, these are woven into the curriculum on a daily basis."
From the headteacher's welcome: "My name is Sophie Clarke and I am very proud to be the Headteacher at Fordwater School in Chichester, West Sussex. Our school caters for pupils aged 2 - 19 years with severe and complex learning needs. Since 2023, the school is based over 2 sites."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include swimming and forest school.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Where pupils go next
Of the 6 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
38.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 13.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Fordwater School, Chichester has an education, health and care plan (219 of 219 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Fordwater School, Chichester provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Chichester Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Blomfield Drive (adjacent), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 256 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in West Sussex (103), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Fordwater School, Chichester recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from January 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its January 2013 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
38.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby schools
Latest from Fordwater School, Chichester
Fordwater Bugle - Issue 310
2 Oct 2026
Fordwater Bugle - Issue 309
25 Sep 2026
Fordwater Bugle - Issue 308
18 Sep 2026
Fordwater Bugle - Issue 307
11 Sep 2026
Fordwater Bugle - Issue 306
4 Sep 2026
14-19 Showcase Newsletter - Summer 2026
22 Jul 2026
From Fordwater School, Chichester's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Fordwater School, Chichester
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Fordwater School, Chichester from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Fordwater School, Chichester 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
- 7
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 1 serious and 5 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
1 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
99%
Near capacity
219 pupils
222 places
3 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Chichester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Chichester
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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
219
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Fordwater School, Chichester provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
219
Total Pupils
148
Boys
71
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
35
Teachers
6.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,107
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.6%
Overall absence
39.1%
Persistent absence
133
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
Fordwater School, Chichester
Showing 10 of 11 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Fordwater School, Chichester
What are SATs results like at Fordwater School, Chichester?
Of the pupils at Fordwater School, Chichester who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Fordwater School, Chichester's Ofsted rating?
Fordwater School, Chichester's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Fordwater School, Chichester?
No fixed boundary. When Fordwater School, Chichester is oversubscribed, West Sussex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Fordwater School, Chichester?
Fordwater School, Chichester has around 219 pupils on roll. 39% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Fordwater School, Chichester have specialist SEN provision?
Fordwater School, Chichester provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Fordwater School, Chichester?
11.6% of sessions were missed at Fordwater School, Chichester in 2024/25. 39.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Fordwater School, Chichester?
Apply through West Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming Fordwater School, Chichester 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 Fordwater School, Chichester?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 1 serious and 5 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 1 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 Fordwater School, Chichester?
Fordwater School, Chichester is at Summersdale Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 6PP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)