This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 20 June 2024Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
- 12 January 2016Graded inspection: Good
Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades
About these grades
Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.
How hard is it to get a place?
DfE · Sept 2026 entry645 applications · 182 places offered · 187 named it first
FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.
- 2026 3.5; Essex median median 2.8
- 2025 3.4; Essex median median 2.7
- 2024 3.3; Essex median median 2.8
- 2023 3.0; Essex median median 2.7
- 2022 2.8; Essex median median 2.7
- 2021 2.4; Essex median median 2.6
- 2020 3.0; Essex median median 2.8
- 2019 2.5; Essex median median 2.7
- 2018 3.1; Essex median median 2.6
- 2017 3.3; Essex median median 2.7
- 2016 3.1; Essex median median 2.6
- 2015 2.9; Essex median median 2.5
- 2014 3.2; Essex median median 2.6
- This school
- Essex median
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
How this is measured
Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 182 | 645 | 3.5 | 187 | 1.03 |
| Sep 2025 | 182 | 622 | 3.4 | 176 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2024 | 185 | 607 | 3.3 | 178 | 0.96 |
| Sep 2023 | 188 | 560 | 3.0 | 159 | 0.85 |
| Sep 2022 | 190 | 539 | 2.8 | 210 | 1.11 |
| Sep 2021 | 190 | 450 | 2.4 | 145 | 0.76 |
| Sep 2020 | 188 | 565 | 3.0 | 184 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2019 | 188 | 468 | 2.5 | 146 | 0.78 |
| Sep 2018 | 186 | 574 | 3.1 | 144 | 0.77 |
| Sep 2017 | 189 | 625 | 3.3 | 169 | 0.89 |
| Sep 2016 | 188 | 590 | 3.1 | 168 | 0.89 |
| Sep 2015 | 185 | 544 | 2.9 | 168 | 0.91 |
| Sep 2014 | 185 | 582 | 3.2 | 161 | 0.87 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 184 | 48.7 | 46% | 66% | – |
| 2024/25 | 189 | 49.9 | 51% | 76% | – |
| 2023/24 | 192 | 49.8 | 51% | 75% | +0.10 |
| 2022/23 | 187 | 48.1 | 49% | 72% | −0.07 |
Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.
Schools nearby
The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority
- St John Payne Catholic School, ChelmsfordThis schoolThis schoolRemains Good20243.5applications per place 48.7Attainment 8
- 1.0 km · EssexOutstanding20243.4applications per place 81.4Attainment 8 Selective
- 1.3 km · Essex20265.0applications per place 83.0Attainment 8 Selective
- 1.9 km · EssexRemains Good20233.6applications per place 49.1Attainment 8
- 2.2 km · EssexGood20233.5applications per place 48.0Attainment 8
- 2.6 km · EssexOutstanding20239.2applications per place 59.3Attainment 8
- 3.0 km · EssexSpecial measures 20260.6applications per place 40.3Attainment 8
- 3.7 km · EssexImproved significantly20244.2applications per place 54.8Attainment 8
- 4.5 km · Essex20264.6applications per place 48.3Attainment 8
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
School details
- Type
- Voluntary aided school
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 115238 · 881/4701
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Capacity
- 1,220 pupils · 1,241 on roll
- Free school meals
- 16.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Address
- Patching Hall Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 4BS
- Local authority
- Essex · Chelmsford
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources