Oak Grove College
Oak Grove College is a community special school in Worthing for pupils aged 11 to 19. It has 274 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Oak Grove College is Good, from an inspection in July 2024.
Ofsted inspection: July 2024.
| Type | Special School / Community special school |
| Age Range | 11-19 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | The Boulevard Worthing West Sussex BN13 1JX |
| Phone | 01903708870 |
| Reference Number | 126161 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 274 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 70.07%
Girls: 29.93% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 49.4% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 8.4% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 33 | 11 | 44 |
| 8 | 35 | 12 | 47 |
| 9 | 27 | 14 | 41 |
| 10 | 35 | 15 | 50 |
| 11 | 41 | 18 | 59 |
| 12 | 6 | 4 | 10 |
| 13 | 10 | 5 | 15 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 78.5% |
| White, Other | 3.6% |
| African | 3.3% |
| Mixed, Other | 3.3% |
| White & Asian | 1.5% |
| White & Black (African) | 1.1% |
| Asian, Other | 1.1% |
| Unclassified | 0.7% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.4% |
| Chinese | 0.4% |
| Pakistani | 0.4% |
Oak Grove College is performing well, maintaining its status as a good school. The school prioritizes effective communication for all pupils, ensuring that they can express their thoughts and feelings. There is a strong commitment to personalized learning, with tailored pathways in place to support students with a range of complex needs, resulting in positive academic outcomes and high levels of pupil engagement. Additionally, staff are highly supported and equipped to meet the individual needs of the pupils, fostering a positive learning environment.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | 11 Jun 2024 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 11 Jun 2024 | School inspection |
| 10 Jan 2019 | Short inspection |
| 11 Dec 2014 | Full inspection: |
| 10 May 2013 | Monitoring visit |
| 29 Jan 2013 | Full inspection: |
| 07 Jul 2010 | Full inspection: |
| 12 Mar 2008 | Monitoring visit |
| 28 Feb 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 26 Feb 2001 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Pupils communicate effectively and feel valued.
- Strong integration of teaching and therapeutic support.
- Well-structured and sequenced learning pathways.
- High levels of pupil engagement and attendance.
- Exceptional behavior and inclusivity among pupils.
- Comprehensive personal development program.
- Effective staff development and support.
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent teaching of early reading across the school.
Ofsted Parent View
The latest published parent view scores are from 2022. Ofsted only publish scores if there have been more than 10 responses to the survey.
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | Don't Know | Total Responses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. My child is happy at this school. | 17 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 26 |
| 2. My child feels safe at this school. | 13 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 26 |
| 3. The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved. | 6 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 26 |
| 4. My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively. | 16 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 5. The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year. | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 26 |
| 6. When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly. | 4 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 7. My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed. | 17 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 26 |
| 8. The school has high expectations for my child. | 5 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 26 |
| 9. My child does well at this school. | 13 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 26 |
| 10. The school lets me know how my child is doing. | 16 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 26 |
| 11. There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school. | 16 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 26 |
| 12. My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school. | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 26 |
| 13. The school supports my child’s wider personal development. | 14 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 26 |
| 14. I would recommend this school to another parent. | 19 | 7 |
Destinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Further Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > School Sixth Form | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Sixth Form College | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Other Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Apprenticeships | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Employment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Not in education or employment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Unknown | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
In 2024–25 pupils at Oak Grove College attended 89.8% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 33.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 5.1% | 4.9% | 5.5% | 6.7% | 7.4% | 7.1% | 6.9% | 8.6% | 7.6% | 9.3% | 7.9% |
| Unauthorised absence | 2.4% | 2.0% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 4.3% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 2.0% | 1.8% | 2.2% |
| Severely absent pupils | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 7.3% | 3.6% | 5.2% | 3.0% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 2.8% |
Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.
In 2024–25, 5.4% of pupils at Oak Grove College were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 23.9 | 15.3 | 14.5 | 7.2 | 5.5 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 8.4 | 12.2 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 7.1 | 8.7 | 5.5 | 10.0 |
| Permanent exclusions | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.
In 2025–26 Oak Grove College had 6.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 8.6% | 6.8% | 14.2% | 2.4% | 7.7% | 0.9% | 14.9% | 1.5% | 6.4% | 5.1% | 6.5% | 7.6% | 9.8% | 9.6% | 12.3% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 80.0% | 84.3% | 78.4% | 76.6% | 83.7% | 67.3% | 83.0% | 80.0% | 89.4% | – | 82.2% | 80.0% | 83.7% | 80.4% | 86.3% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 7.8 | 11.2 | 10.0 | 7.1 | 6.6 | 5.5 | 6.2 | 7.2 | 5.7 | – | 4.6 | 6.7 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 4.5 | – |
Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.
In 2025–26 Oak Grove College had 274 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).
It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty.
Pupils by main type of need
| EHC plan | |
|---|---|
| Severe learning difficulty | 108 |
| Moderate learning difficulty | 76 |
| Speech, language and communication needs | 31 |
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 24 |
| Social, emotional and mental health | 14 |
| Profound and multiple learning difficulty | 7 |
| Other difficulty or disability | 5 |
| Physical disability | 4 |
| Specific learning difficulty | 4 |
| Multi-sensory impairment | 1 |
Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.
In 2025–26 Oak Grove College received £30,761 and spent £30,750 for each of its 275 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £19,000 (£69 per pupil).
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | -£234,000 | -£714,000 | -£590,000 | -£132,000 | £209,000 | £137,000 | £16,000 | £19,000 |
| per pupil | -£954 | -£2,858 | -£2,268 | -£498 | £759 | £500 | £57 | £69 |
| In-year balance | -£220,000 | -£481,000 | £125,000 | £457,000 | £341,000 | -£72,000 | -£121,000 | £3,000 |
| per pupil | -£897 | -£1,923 | £480 | £1,719 | £1,241 | -£265 | -£432 | £11 |
Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).
| Name | Distance |
|
English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, Worthing
Derwent Drive, Goring-by-Sea, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 6LA |
0.19 miles |
|
Palatine Primary School
Palatine Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 6JP |
0.25 miles |
|
Orchards Junior School
Nelson Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 6EN |
0.48 miles |
|
Orchards Infant School
Nelson Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 6EN |
0.5 miles |
|
Durrington Junior School
Salvington Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 2JD |
0.51 miles |
|
Hawthorns Primary School
Poplar Road, Durrington, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 3EZ |
0.54 miles |
|
Durrington Infant School
Salvington Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 2JD |
0.56 miles |
|
Thomas A Becket Infant School
Pelham Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 1JB |
0.63 miles |
|
The Laurels Primary School, Worthing
Winterbourne Way, West Durrington, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 3QH |
0.75 miles |
|
Thomas A Becket Junior School
Glebeside Avenue, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 7PR |
0.85 miles |
|
Elm Grove Primary School, Worthing
Elm Grove, Elm Grove Primary School, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 5LQ |
0.9 miles |
|
West Park CofE Primary (Controlled) School
Marlborough Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 4HD |
0.98 miles |
|
Goring-By-Sea CofE (Aided) Primary School
Mulberry Lane, Goring-by-Sea, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 4RN |
1.06 miles |
|
Broadwater CofE Primary School
Rectory Gardens, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 7TQ |
1.42 miles |
|
Vale School, Worthing
Vale Avenue, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 0DB |
1.5 miles |
|
Heene CofE Primary School
Norfolk Street, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 4BB |
1.54 miles |
|
Lancing College Preparatory School at Worthing
Broadwater Road, Worthing, BN14 8HU |
1.58 miles |
|
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Cobden Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 4BD |
1.6 miles |
|
Ferring C of E Primary School
Sea Lane, Ferring, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 5DU |
1.75 miles |
|
Whytemead Primary School
Dominion Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 8LH |
1.94 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Durrington High School
The Boulevard, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 1JX |
0.13 miles |
|
Courtlands Independent Special School
37 Parklands Avenue, Goring By Sea, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 4NG |
1.19 miles |
|
Worthing High School
South Farm Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 7AR |
1.29 miles |
|
St Oscar Romero Catholic School
Goring Street, Goring-By-Sea, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 5AF |
1.32 miles |
|
Bohunt School Worthing
65a Broadwater Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 8AH |
1.57 miles |
|
Brighton Forward Ltd
28a Teville Road, Worthing, BN11 1UG |
1.66 miles |
|
Our Lady of Sion School
Our Lady of Sion School, West Sussex, BN11 4BL |
1.74 miles |
|
St Andrew's CofE High School
Sackville Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 8BG |
1.89 miles |
|
Educate U
Unit 2, 58c Chapel Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1BG |
1.92 miles |
|
Seadown School
Seadown House, 1a Farncombe Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2BE |
2.36 miles |
|
Davison Church of England High School for Girls, Worthing
Selborne Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2JX |
2.41 miles |
|
Red Balloon Worthing Learner Centre
52 - 54 Windsor Road, Worthing, West Sussex, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2LY |
2.52 miles |
|
The Angmering School
Station Road, Angmering, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN16 4HH |
3.26 miles |
|
The Sir Robert Woodard Academy
Upper Boundstone Lane, Sompting, West Sussex, BN15 9QZ |
3.51 miles |
|
Springboard Education
55 South Street, Lancing, West Sussex, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 8AN |
3.81 miles |
|
Windlesham House School
London Road, Pulborough, RH20 4AY |
4.32 miles |
|
Lancing College
|
4.73 miles |
All schools in Worthing · West Sussex local authority: places and applications
What is Oak Grove College's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Oak Grove College is Good, from an inspection in July 2024.
When was Oak Grove College last inspected by Ofsted?
Oak Grove College was last inspected in July 2024.
How many pupils does Oak Grove College have?
Oak Grove College has 274 pupils on roll.
What age range does Oak Grove College cover?
Oak Grove College for pupils aged 11 to 19.
Where is Oak Grove College?
Oak Grove College is at The Boulevard, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 1JX.