Ofsted report recognises progress – Brighton and Hove News
An Ofsted report has praised progress at a Brighton secondary school where the proportion of top grades doubled in the latest GCSE exam results.
Ofsted Report
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.”
“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.”
“Attendance surged by an exceptional 4 percentage points over the 2025-26 academic year while summer exam performance showed gains across standard measures.”
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.”
From the Head teacher
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.
“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.
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.
Frank le Duc of Brighton and Hove News.
Click to read the full article visit Brighton & Hove News: https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2026/09/14/ofsted-report-recognises-progress-at-brighton-secondary-school/
Click to learn more about our Open Day and Open Mornings: https://longhill.org.uk/2026/09/open-evening-2026/https://longhill.org.uk/2026/09/open-evening-2026/