This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 9 November 2023Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
- 16 May 2018Graded 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 entry403 applications · 215 places offered · 196 named it first
- 2026 1.9; Essex median median 2.8
- 2025 1.9; Essex median median 2.7
- 2024 1.9; Essex median median 2.8
- 2023 2.0; Essex median median 2.7
- 2022 1.8; Essex median median 2.7
- 2021 1.8; Essex median median 2.6
- 2020 1.8; Essex median median 2.8
- 2019 1.9; Essex median median 2.7
- 2018 1.6; Essex median median 2.6
- 2017 2.6; Essex median median 2.7
- 2016 1.4; Essex median median 2.6
- 2015 2.1; Essex median median 2.5
- 2014 1.7; 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 | 215 | 403 | 1.9 | 196 | 0.91 |
| Sep 2025 | 232 | 451 | 1.9 | 210 | 0.91 |
| Sep 2024 | 227 | 425 | 1.9 | 209 | 0.92 |
| Sep 2023 | 222 | 433 | 2.0 | 205 | 0.92 |
| Sep 2022 | 206 | 379 | 1.8 | 181 | 0.88 |
| Sep 2021 | 178 | 325 | 1.8 | 177 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2020 | 149 | 273 | 1.8 | 138 | 0.93 |
| Sep 2019 | 154 | 295 | 1.9 | 128 | 0.83 |
| Sep 2018 | 166 | 263 | 1.6 | 114 | 0.69 |
| Sep 2017 | 88 | 225 | 2.6 | 60 | 0.68 |
| Sep 2016 | 167 | 233 | 1.4 | 92 | 0.55 |
| Sep 2015 | 72 | 154 | 2.1 | 57 | 0.79 |
| Sep 2014 | 101 | 169 | 1.7 | 56 | 0.55 |
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.) | 181 | 42.5 | 40% | 62% | – |
| 2024/25 | 176 | 40.6 | 35% | 62% | – |
| 2023/24 | 177 | 41.1 | 39% | 59% | −0.43 |
| 2022/23 | 169 | 44.2 | 39% | 63% | −0.18 |
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
- Lift New RickstonesThis schoolThis schoolRemains Good20231.9applications per place 42.5Attainment 8
- 2.4 km · Essex20261.6applications per place 40.6Attainment 8
- 7.3 km · EssexRemains Good20222.4applications per place 47.1Attainment 8
- 7.6 km · EssexGood20223.2applications per place 45.1Attainment 8
- 7.8 km · EssexGraded · no overall grade20252.1applications per place 46.5Attainment 8
- 7.9 km · Essex20261.8applications per place 46.1Attainment 8
- 9.9 km · Essex20261.9applications per place 38.5Attainment 8
- 10.3 km · EssexGood20232.0applications per place 42.2Attainment 8
- 11.5 km · EssexOutstanding20239.2applications per place 59.3Attainment 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
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 135651 · 881/6905
- Trust
- Lift Schools
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,100 pupils · 1,221 on roll
- Free school meals
- 28.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 September 2008
- Replaced
- The Rickstones School (URN 115328)
- Address
- Conrad Road, Witham, CM8 2SD
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources