St Philip Howard Catholic School, Bognor Regis

Secondary
Academy converter
Mixed
Roman Catholic
Ages 1118

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~2.6km)Possible (~3.7km)Unlikely (~4.8km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Tim Hulse
Pupils:1,322 / 1,033 capacity
LA:West Sussex
Phone:01243552055
Website:sphcs.co.uk
Address:Elm Grove South, Barnham, Bognor Regis, PO22 0EN
Trust:BOSCO CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 April 2017

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 5 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Strong Standard
Behaviour
Strong Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Strong Standard
Sixth Form
Strong Standard
Inspected 14 April 2026View full report
URN:144243
UKPRN:10063488
Diocese:Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
Constituency:Arundel and South Downs
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

St Philip Howard is an inclusive, welcoming school where pupils achieve very well regardless of their starting points. The school excels at supporting all learners, including those with additional needs and disadvantages, through expert teaching, clear expectations rooted in care, and strong pastoral support. Pupils develop into confident, respectful young people who are extremely well prepared for their futures.

Key Strengths

  • Pupils achieve above national average results and make sustained, accelerated progress from their starting points
  • Strong inclusive culture where all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, thrive
  • Excellent behaviour, attendance and relationships built on kindness and respect
  • Well-planned, ambitious curriculum that builds knowledge logically with strong focus on literacy
  • Sixth-form students achieve well with strong careers guidance and progression to ambitious destinations

Areas for Improvement

  • Personal development learning in key stage 4 is not revisited often enough, particularly around concepts like democracy
  • Systems to check pupils' retention and understanding of personal development concepts lack precision

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is effective - the school has an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met and pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Leadership roles, volunteering, mentoring, charity and social events, enrichment opportunities, work-related experiences, careers education with employers and providers

St Philip Howard Catholic School is a high-performing school where pupils achieve very well across all subjects and progress above national averages. The school demonstrates strong commitment to inclusion, excellent behaviour and attendance, and effective leadership.

At a Glance

11.9%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

21.4

Avg class size

60

Total classes

13 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Barnham Rail Station (entrance)
442m · 7 min walk

Bus Stops

St Philip Howard School (at)
49m · 1 min walk
Elm Grove (adj)
124m · 2 min walk
Railway Station (adj)
357m · 6 min walk
Downview Road (adj)
408m · 7 min walk
Dial Close (adj)
622m · 10 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

128%

Over capacity

1,322 pupils

1,033 capacity

289 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Bognor Regis

High pressure
New homes approved:911
Projected new pupils:164

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bognor Regis

Admissions Demand - West Sussex

Low demand0.92x oversubscription

Places available

9,742

Applications

8,914

Got 1st preference

87.8%

Got preferred school

97.4%

Secondary admissions across West Sussex (2025/26)

Inspection History(4)

14 April 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Sixth Form
5 October 2021
6 April 2017

House Prices

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

6.88708%

Overall absence

16.61779%

Persistent absence

1,023

Enrolments

Authorised5.45103%
Unauthorised1.43605%
Persistent (10%+)16.61779%
Severe (50%+)2.34604%

Absence trend

4.26817%
18/19
3.20788%
20/21
6.75072%
21/22
7.05294%
22/23
6.68224%
23/24
6.88708%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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