The Littlehampton Academy, Littlehampton

Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades The Littlehampton Academy on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have made important improvements to the curriculum to ensure that it is ambitious, broad and aligned with national expectations."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders create an inclusive culture, which means that staff identify pupils' individual needs accurately and respond quickly to them."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and the areas that need further improvement."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders provide a clear and broad personal development offer that reflects the school's context and priorities."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of the quality and suitability of the post‑16 study programmes."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Inconsistencies in staffing and previous weaknesses in curriculum design influence published outcomes."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Too many pupils do not attend school regularly enough."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders must continue to refine and implement effective support to reduce persistent absenteeism and improve attendance of pupils. • Leaders must ensure that teachers are skilled at routinely checking pupils' understanding and starting points so they can expertly adapt teaching effectively, enabling pupils to achieve highly. • Leaders must continue to strengthen positive and inclusive approaches that help pupils manage their behaviour and reduce the risk of suspension. • Leaders should continue to foster positive partnerships and effective communication with parents and carers to ensure pupils receive coordinated support that helps them to succeed".

In its own words: "Our vision is to be an academy that secures excellent outcomes and provides life-enhancing experiences for all students. We believe that creating a positive culture and ethos is paramount for the removal of barriers and enables all students to realise their potential."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Littlehampton Academy Sixth Form is an academically focused and thriving place to study. Over the last four years we have achieved on average 40% A* - B at A Level, as well as being graded consistently 'Excellent' for the progress our students make."

The school runs after-school care.

In 2026, pupils at The Littlehampton Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 36.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.2 in West Sussex and 47 across England.

33% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 47% in West Sussex and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 37.2.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.69: pupils made well 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 27.2, against 40.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Social Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 182 families put The Littlehampton Academy as their first choice and 333 named it as one of their preferences, for 217 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 The Littlehampton Academy are The Angmering School (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.8); St Oscar Romero Catholic School (4.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 57.2); and St Philip Howard Catholic School (5 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 53).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than The Littlehampton Academy.

The Littlehampton Academy is one of 6 schools run by Woodard Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.5 in 2024/25.

234 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Littlehampton Academy (as of April 2026): 54% would recommend the school, 53% say their child is happy there and 26% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (54%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (26%).

Of the 228 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 68% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 58 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 28% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 38% into work. 5% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

11.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The Littlehampton Academy has a SEN unit for autism: 18 places, 18 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Littlehampton Rail Station, about 910 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Littlehampton Academy (at), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 351 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.

In 2024/25, The Littlehampton Academy issued 769 suspensions, 56.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 9 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Littlehampton Academy are St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, Littlehampton (0.3 miles); River Beach Primary School (0.4 miles); White Meadows Primary Academy (0.5 miles); and Lyminster Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.