Vale School, Worthing, Worthing

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Vale School, Worthing on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders and governors demonstrate strong, strategic and highly effective oversight of attendance."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve very highly in national tests, showing impressive foundational skills in reading, writing and mathematics."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors have a secure understanding of the curriculum's strengths."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a nurturing and ambitious early years environment, where children flourish from the start."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have established effective systems to identify and support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who are disadvantaged."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders show dedication and commitment to continually improve this thriving school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors are committed to their mantra of ‘no child left behind'."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teaching and learning activities are consistently effective, so that pupils produce high-quality work across the whole curriculum"; "Leaders and governors should ensure that staff wellbeing is assured, so all staff feel valued, respected and involved in the strategic direction of the school".

In its own words: "Vale School wants every child to thrive and succeed in all areas of learning and development. We know every child will naturally lean towards certain subjects and we strive to encourage this enthusiasm and natural abilities."

In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils at Vale School, Worthing reached the expected standard in reading and 79% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 72% in West Sussex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 86% in reading and 87% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 74 families put Vale School, Worthing as their first choice and 140 named it as one of their preferences, for 75 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 primary schools to Vale School, Worthing are Durrington Infant School (1 mile, Requires improvement); Durrington Junior School (1 mile, Good, 80% reading, 81% maths); St John the Baptist CofE Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 62% reading, 69% maths); and Thomas A Becket Junior School (1.5 miles, Good, 82% reading, 80% maths).

Vale School, Worthing's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

251 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Vale School, Worthing (as of September 2026): 85% would recommend the school, 88% say their child is happy there and 61% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (61%).

7.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (89%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 58 pupils (10%) received SEN support and 5 (0.9%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is West Worthing Rail Station, about 2.1 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cissbury Avenue (opposite), 230 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 47 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 West Sussex (103).

In 2024/25, Vale School, Worthing issued 1 suspension, 0.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.