An Ofsted report has praised progress at a Brighton secondary school where the proportion of top grades doubled in the latest GCSE exam results.
The official education watchdog said: “Pupils are proud to attend Longhill. They build warm relationships with staff. This helps them to develop an increasingly secure sense of belonging.
“Pupils enjoy school and are positive about the changes that leaders have made. They feel that expectations have risen significantly.
Teachers apply these expectations through consistent use of the school’s behaviour approach. This helps pupils to behave well.
“Pupils are polite and courteous. They are considerate of others, and this creates a positive environment throughout the school.”
Head teacher Rachelle Otulakowski said: “I am proud to say that after three years of a culture shift, Longhill School is celebrating significant, measurable progress across key academic and developmental areas following its latest Ofsted inspection and recent summer GCSE results.
“Ofsted confirmed that safeguarding standards continue to be met, praising the school’s warm sense of belonging, respectful culture and effective inclusion strategy.”
Ofsted grades six areas, with inclusion meeting the expected standard as well as personal development and wellbeing.
The “expected” standard for judgments, Ofsted said, was “a high standard, to make sure your children are receiving everything they need and deserve”.
Mrs Otulakowski said: “Operating with an intake of around 120 students per year group – compared to 240 to 360 in neighbouring schools – Longhill offers a tailored educational experience where every pupil is known individually.
“This personalised approach begins on day one through the school’s unique Year 7 Learning Zone, complete with its own dining space and bathroom facilities to guarantee a smooth, confident transition into secondary school.
“The school’s upward trajectory is reflected in both student engagement and academic outcomes.
“Attendance surged by an exceptional 4 percentage points over the 2025-26 academic year while summer exam performance showed gains across standard measures.
“Overall Progress 8 score improved year-on-year, progress in the EBacc suite rose by +0.40, and the proportion of pupils achieving top GCSE grades (7–9) doubled to 10 per cent.”
The school “needs attention” in four areas, Oftsed said. They were achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching and leadership and governance.
Inspectors have repeatedly highlighted challenges around attendance in schools in Brighton and Hove and Ofsted grades attendance and behaviour together.
The local authority had the second-worst attendance in England in 2024-25, according to the Department for Education. Attendance has not recovered as quickly after the coronavirus pandemic as it has done in other areas.
Ofsted said: “Pupils do not attend well enough. While this has improved recently, attendance remains significantly below national averages.
“This means that too many pupils miss too much vital learning. Leaders’ work to improve attendance is becoming more effective over time.”
Ofsted added: “Leaders have established a culture of positive behaviour. As a result, pupils behave well. Pupils have positive attitudes to learning.
“They work hard to complete the tasks that teachers set. This helps to create a focused and purposeful atmosphere. Teachers have consistently high expectations of pupils’ behaviour.”
The report said: “Leaders work well with staff. They act as strong role models, and staff respond positively to this. There is a strong team ethos. This includes shared high ambition for all pupils.”
Ofsted also said: “Leaders have worked hard to improve their relationships with parents and carers. The vast majority of parents are now very positive about the school.”
Mrs Otulakowski said: “With polite, courteous pupils, clear leadership priorities and a dedicated teaching team, Longhill is well-positioned to build on these successes as it works toward achieving strong standards across all inspection categories.”
The school has an open day on Thursday 8 October from 5pm to 7pm.
To read the full report, click here.
Thank goodness OFSTED saw what my children have experienced every day for two years! This school is so much better than a lot of people think. Really pleased for them. It’s a blessing to have a local secondary school that is smaller and means the pupils are well looked after.
As a parent of two children at Longhill, I can’t stress enough how things have improved. My children actually enjoy going to school now! Before the new head joined, everyone felt negative. Now there is genuine excitement and buzz on the WhatsApp groups! I hope they get the numbers of students they deserve soon. Very happy parent, here!!
Nice to see a positive article about the school. both my children are here and doing well. seems hard to change peoples opinions the school and i don’t know why.
we need the local children to start attending rather then travelling 30 minutes across town to alternative schools that are no better.
Yeah smaller schools have to be praised: with all the issues teenagers have now these are the schools that will make the difference
This accurately reflects the positive changes at the school over the past three years. As a parent of two children at Longhill, I could not be happier with our experience to date. I really hope this will instil some confidence for local families to choose a short journey for their kids to their local community school.
Well done to the school and well down to B&H news for reporting positively on the school’s improvement.
Longhill is much improved and the new catchment area, focused on the Deans, gives the school an easier cohort to work with. It will, however, take a while for that to be reflected in headline academic results. You’d hope more and more local parents realise they have a good school on their doorstep and that the lengthy journey to huge schools like Priory and Newman isn’t worth it anymore.
All I ever hear about this school is negative, and I’m convinced most of it comes from people who have no idea. This school is in a beautiful area and should be thriving. I’m pleased to finally see something positive that is likely much more reflective of reality. As a parent of two who attended Newman but left to join Longhill, I can honestly say they were much happier at the latter.
It is so nice to read about the positive changes that have been taking place at Longhill School – and the lovely comments from parents on here too. It is fantastic to read about staff, pupils and parents all working together at the school to move in the same positive direction.
Well done to all the staff for their dedication to the pupils at Longhill, and congratulations to all those celebrating their GCSE results.
As a parent of three children who have attended, or are currently attending, the school, I too can attest to the positive message conveyed in this article and have seen first-hand the change over the last three years.
Longhill is a fantastic, inclusive community comprehensive where my children have achieved academically and taken advantage of the wide range of extracurricular opportunities on offer, with the added advantage that it’s on our doorstep!
I echo the praise for all the dedicated staff at Longhill who have made, and continue to make, this happen!
My daughter loves it at Longhill. She enjoys going everyday and is achieving well. Being a smaller school means she’s getting the personal attention she needs to achieve her best. She loves all the extra activities the school do – art club, drama and loads of sport.
I’m so pleased she went to our local school and is thriving. She isn’t spending lots of time travelling to and from school like lots of her peers from primary do. 15 mins and she’s home, no trains or changing buses in busy Brighton.
Our daughter has just started in Year 7 in Longhill and is absolutely loving it! We live in Saltdean so it’s a quick and easy bus ride to school with her friends. She thinks her teachers are great and her good attitude to learning has been noticed and celebrated. There are free clubs available every day after school and even after those she’s home by 4pm! Longhill is a lovely local school with great teachers. I feel lucky that my daughter is at the local school and not having to commute for miles to Lewes or Brighton!
I can only agree with all the previous comments. My 2 kids love Longhill They are thriving academically, they are completely supported by amazing staff, but most importantly the are happy.
My child has started in Y7 and is very happy! We’re impressed with the provisions made for the children and the fantastic offering of after school clubs – all free! With the bus leaving Saltdean at 7.40 and getting home at 3.05 – it gives them a decent morning at home and loads of time to do things after school. We’re very pleased with our choice.
Great to hear such positive comments about school and particularly that pupils happy and making good progress