Patcham High School, Brighton

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a real privilege to lead such a vibrant, inclusive and ambitious school community. At Patcham, we believe every young person has incredible potential, and it is our job to help them discover it, nurture it and let it thrive. Our motto, One Team, One Dream, captures the spirit of our school."

In 2026, pupils at Patcham High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.7 in Brighton and Hove and 47 across England.

50% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 47% in Brighton and Hove and 47% in England.

That is up from 45.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.45: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 33.2, against 51.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 18.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 145 families put Patcham High School as their first choice and 603 named it as one of their preferences, for 198 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Patcham High School are Varndean School (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 54.7); Dorothy Stringer School (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.5); Cardinal Newman Catholic School (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.9); and Blatchington Mill School (2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52.5).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Patcham High School.

Of the 221 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 20% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

6.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (80%) and Mixed (9%).

In 2026, 286 pupils (26.6%) received SEN support and 59 (5.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.

The nearest railway station is Preston Park Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is High School (adjacent), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 117 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Brighton and Hove (366).

Patcham High School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The primary schools closest to Patcham High School are Patcham Junior School (under 0.1 miles), Patcham Infant School (0.2 miles), Carden Nursery and Primary School (0.7 miles) and Westdene Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.