Brighton Aldridge Community Academy

Brighton Aldridge Community Academy
Location

, ,
BN1 9PW

England
Coordinates50°51′32″N 0°05′28″W / 50.859°N 0.091°W / 50.859; -0.091
Information
TypeAcademy
Established1 September 2010 (2010-09-01)
Department for Education URN136164 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalJack Davies
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 19
Capacity813 (2024/25)
HousesCentaur, Gryphon, Pegasus, Minotaur
Websitehttp://www.baca-uk.org.uk/

Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA)[1] is a coeducational academy school in Brighton. It opened on 1 September 2010 replacing Falmer High School.

It is part of the Aldridge Education multi-academy trust set up by founder and former executive chairman of business process outsourcing company Capita plc, Sir Rodney Aldridge who Peter Kyle MP, upon Kyle's resignation as chairman of BACA board of governors, described as "the spark that ignited this remarkable effort."[2]

Dylan Davies became Brighton Aldridge Community Academy's second Principal succeeding Philomena Hogg on her retirement, taking up the role in January 2014. Davies left the role in 2018.[3][4]

In October 2010 the school announced a partnership with Sussex Cricket League to promote cricket in the area.[5] The Aldridge Cricket Academy was subsequently formed which allows sixth form students from Brighton Aldridge Community Academy or Portslade Aldridge Community Academy to combine A level studies with an intensive cricket development programme.[6]

Brighton Aldridge Community Academy, Portslade Aldridge Community Academy and Latest TV jointly provide a digital media academy to students called the Brighton Digital Media Academy (BDMA), which launched in September 2015.[7]

The school was rated "Good" in all categories by Ofsted in January 2017.[8] An Ofsted inspection in March 2022 rated the school "Inadequate", the lowest rating.[9] In 2023 it was rated "Requires Improvement" and in 2025 it was rated "Good" across all categories.[10][11]

Campus

The building was designed by architects Feilden Clegg Bradley and constructed by building firm Kier Group. The first phase of the new building was finished in September 2010 and all buildings were completed by September 2011.

References

  1. ^ Chiles, Andy (27 January 2010). "New name chosen for Brighton school". The Argus.
  2. ^ le Duc, Frank (12 July 2017). "MP steps down as chair of governors at Brighton school". Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Brighton Aldridge Community Academy - BACA Says Goodbye to Mr Davies". www.baca-uk.org.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  4. ^ le Duc, Frank (10 January 2018). "Brighton school's head leaves to become Ofsted inspector". Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Sussex partnership with Brighton Aldridge Community Academy – News – Sussex County Cricket Club". Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  6. ^ "Aldridge Cricket Academy website". Aldridge Cricket Academy. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Brighton Aldridge Community Academy – Brighton Digital Media Academy". baca-uk.org.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Brighton School Celebrates Improved Ofsted Rating". SussexWorld. 12 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Inspection of Brighton Aldridge Community Academy". Ofsted. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Brighton Aldridge Community Academy". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Ofsted. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  11. ^ Nicholson, Savannah (12 June 2025). "Joy at school's latest Ofsted result after once getting lowest rating". The Argus. Retrieved 24 February 2026.