Secondary Schools in Chichester
Chichester High School, Bishop Luffa and sixth form options
Secondary education in Chichester is provided principally by two schools: Chichester High School and Bishop Luffa School. Between them, these two institutions educate the vast majority of secondary-age pupils in the city and the surrounding area. Both are well regarded, and both have sixth forms offering A-level and other post-16 qualifications.
Chichester High School is the main state comprehensive, with a campus on the eastern edge of the city. It is a large school serving a wide catchment area that takes in the city and several surrounding villages. The school has undergone significant investment and improvement over the years and has a solid academic record. It offers a broad curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4, with a wide range of GCSE subjects, and a sixth form providing A-levels and some vocational courses. The school's size means it can offer a breadth of subjects and extracurricular activities that smaller schools cannot match.
Bishop Luffa School is a Church of England secondary school with a strong academic reputation. It consistently achieves good examination results and is one of the most popular schools in the area. Admissions are based partly on church attendance, and families who wish their children to attend Bishop Luffa must demonstrate regular worship at an eligible church. This requirement shapes the social geography of Chichester, with some families choosing where to live and which church to attend with one eye on secondary school admissions. The school has a sixth form and a distinctive ethos rooted in its Christian foundation.
Chichester College, on Westgate Fields, provides an alternative post-16 pathway. The college offers A-levels, BTECs, T-levels, apprenticeships and other vocational qualifications across a wide range of subjects. It draws students from the secondary schools in Chichester and from the wider area, and its campus facilities include specialist workshops, studios and sports facilities. For students who prefer a college environment to a school sixth form, or who want to study vocational subjects not available in the schools, the college is an important option.
The standard of secondary education in Chichester compares favourably with the national picture. Both main schools are rated Good by Ofsted, and examination results at GCSE and A-level are generally above the West Sussex and national averages. The competition between the two schools, and the different routes they offer, gives families a genuine choice.
Transport to school is provided by a network of school buses serving the villages and outlying areas. Pupils within walking or cycling distance are expected to make their own way, and the city's relatively compact size means that many families are within a reasonable distance of at least one of the two main schools.
Chichester College, on Westgate Fields, provides an alternative post-16 pathway for students who prefer a college environment or want to study vocational subjects. The college offers A-levels, BTECs, T-levels, apprenticeships and other vocational qualifications across a wide range of subjects, and its campus facilities include specialist workshops, studios, sports facilities and a dedicated learning resource centre. For students who want a fresh start after GCSEs or who thrive in a less school-like environment, the college is an important option that serves the wider community well.
Transport to school is provided by a network of school buses serving the villages and outlying areas where walking or cycling is not practical. Pupils within walking or cycling distance are expected to make their own way, and the city relatively compact size means that many families are within a reasonable distance of at least one of the two main schools. The school bus network is funded through a combination of local authority subsidies and parental contributions.