Hove Park School and Sixth Form Centre

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 27 January 2026

Pupils play an important and active role in this inclusive school community. They know staff listen to them and value their contributions. Pupils feel confident celebrating their own culture and the cultures of others, for example through the popular school food festivals. They build trusting relationships with staff. This helps staff identify pupils who may need extra help quickly and helps pupils feel happy and safe. Pupils are polite and courteous. They chat with friends at breaktimes or organise competitive but friendly games of table tennis. As a result, breaks are calm and positive. Pupils enjoy learning, which is evident in the calm and purposeful atmosphere throughout the school. Pupils develop skills and knowledge that extend beyond the classroom. All pupils benefit from the well-planned programme of trips, educational visits and after-school clubs. They are keen to earn ‘stars’ for taking part in these activities. One pupil explained that these opportunities help them ‘step outside their comfort zone’, a view shared by many. Pupils become increasingly confident and resilient during their time in school. Challenging experiences, such as the ‘Big Camp’ or Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions, help them develop important skills for their next steps. Most pupils attend well and attendance is improving. Despite this, persistent absence remains too high, which means some pupils miss important time in school. Overall, pupils achieve well. Teachers have high expectations and pupils work hard to meet them. Their work shows that they learn the skills and knowledge they need and can apply them. Pupils generally achieve well in national tests and make steady progress from their starting points.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should continue to strengthen and embed their attendance strategies so that persistent absence reduces for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, ensuring these pupils attend school more regularly and do not miss important learning time. • Leaders need to ensure that staff carry out precise checks on pupils’ learning in all subjects, so that pupils’ next steps in learning are clearly identified and build securely on what they already know.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)