Higher education institutions
Chichester · PO19 6PE · West Sussex
0.5 miles away
OpenOfsted: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 NextURN 126163
Fordwater School, Chichester
Community special school · Chichester · PO19 6PP
Ages 2–19 · 219 pupils · West Sussex
Ofsted
School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next
Overall absence
12.7%
Ofsted
Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.
Headline
School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next
Inspection date
2023-09-28
Performance
Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.
Key stage 4 (2023/24)
Key stage 2 (2023/24)
Expected standard (RWM)0%
Higher standard (RWM)0%
Absence
Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.
Overall absence12.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)44.5%
Unauthorised0.7%
- Authorised absence
- 12.1%
- Severe absence (50%+)
- 3.4%
- Enrolments in measure
- 119
Absence trend
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
- Overall
- Persistent (10%+)
Size & intake
From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).
Capacity fill120%
219 pupils · 154 places
- Pupils on roll
- 219
- Boys / girls
- 148 / 71
- School capacity
- 154
- Capacity fill
- 219 / 154 (142%)
- Free school meals
- 35.9%
- FSM pupils
- 61
- Gender
- Mixed
- School type
- Community special school
Age range
Ages 2–19
05111619
Provision
Official GIAS characteristics
3 / 6
- NurseryHas Nursery Classes
- Sixth formHas a sixth form
- Boarding
- Special school
- Independent
- Academy
School characteristics
- Special classes
- Has Special Classes
- Governance
- Community special school
- Headteacher
- Ms Sophie Clarke
Location
- Address
- Summersdale Road
- Postcode
- PO19 6PP
- Town
- Chichester
- County
- West Sussex
- Local authority
- West Sussex
- District
- Chichester
- Constituency
- Chichester
- Urban/rural
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
SEN & specialist provision
As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.
- SEN types
- SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
- Special classes
- Has Special Classes
Local context
How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.
Mixed community special school, Ages 2–19, in Chichester, West Sussex, 219 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, sixth form, special school. Free school meals: 35.9%. SEN provision includes: SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty.
Nearby schools
Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.
St Anthony's School
Ofsted: OutstandingCommunity special school
Chichester · PO19 5PA · West Sussex
Ages 4–16
- Att80.3
- P8-1.6
- EM5+0%
- Absence11.4%
0.5 miles away
St. Joseph's Infant School
Ofsted: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 NextAcademy converter · Primary
Chichester · PO19 1DQ · West Sussex
Ages 2–7
- Absence8.2%
- FSM16.9%
- Demand0.81
0.8 miles away
St. Joseph's CofE Junior School
Ofsted: GoodAcademy sponsor led · Primary
Chichester · PO19 1DQ · West Sussex
Ages 7–11
- KS238%
- Absence7.8%
- FSM33.3%
0.9 miles away
Jessie Younghusband Primary School
Ofsted: School remains GoodCommunity school · Primary
Chichester · PO19 3RE · West Sussex
Ages 4–11
- KS258%
- Absence5.3%
- FSM12.7%
- Demand1.47
1.0 miles away
Portfield Primary Academy
Ofsted: Needs attentionAcademy sponsor led · Primary
West Sussex · PO19 7HA · West Sussex
Ages 4–11
- KS245%
- Absence7.6%
- FSM39.6%
- Demand0.93
1.0 miles away
Chichester Nursery School
Ofsted: School remains GoodLocal authority nursery school · Nursery
Chichester · PO19 7AB · West Sussex
Ages 3–5
- FSM0.0%
1.0 miles away
Parklands Community Primary School
Ofsted: School remains GoodCommunity school · Primary
Chichester · PO19 3AG · West Sussex
Ages 4–11
- KS253%
- Absence5.7%
- FSM21.8%
- Demand0.90
1.0 miles away
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Contact
- Headteacher
- Ms Sophie Clarke
- Telephone
- 01243782475