The Forest School, Horsham

In its own words: "We provide an outstanding education, with high-quality teaching and a nurturing school ethos that empowers each student to achieve their personal best. We provide a personalised curriculum, delivered by staff who understand how young people learn and who provide a safe, happy and challenging environment."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am very proud to welcome you to The Forest School. We see our school as the centre of a family which includes students, parents and staff. We therefore believe that our school is very special - a happy and safe environment in which our students can learn, grow and develop into confident and successful global citizens."

In 2026, pupils at The Forest School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.2 in West Sussex and 47 across England.

42% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 47% in West Sussex and 47% in England.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 32.8, against 45.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.6 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 204 families put The Forest School as their first choice and 766 named it as one of their preferences, for 216 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 19 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The Forest School are Millais School (0.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 54.7); Tanbridge House School (2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 56); Bohunt Horsham (2.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.2); and Holy Trinity CofE Secondary School, Crawley (5.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.2).

The Forest School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

The Forest School is one of 2 schools run by Horsham Learning Alliance, an academy trust.

Of the 181 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 25% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

12.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 11% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (79%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 215 pupils (19.3%) received SEN support and 30 (2.7%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Horsham Rail Station, about 1080 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Forest School (outside), 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Forest School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

The primary schools closest to The Forest School are Heron Way Primary School (0.3 miles), Kingslea Primary School (0.7 miles), Leechpool Primary School (0.9 miles) and St Mary's CofE (Aided) Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.