Graded inspection · Feb 2024 Previous framework
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
This schoolOther secondary schools in Southend-on-SeaSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| Area | Outstanding | Good | Requires improvement | Inadequate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding | |||
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding | |||
| Personal development | Outstanding | |||
| Leadership and management | Outstanding | |||
| Sixth form provision | Outstanding |
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 entry856 applications · 185 places offered · 239 named it first
SelectiveApplications include children who did not pass the entrance test.
- 2026 4.6; Southend-on-Sea median median 2.7
- 2025 5.0; Southend-on-Sea median median 3.0
- 2024 5.5; Southend-on-Sea median median 2.8
- 2023 5.3; Southend-on-Sea median median 2.9
- 2022 4.6; Southend-on-Sea median median 2.7
- 2021 7.3; Southend-on-Sea median median 3.4
- 2020 6.4; Southend-on-Sea median median 3.2
- 2019 6.0; Southend-on-Sea median median 3.1
- 2018 5.0; Southend-on-Sea median median 3.9
- 2017 4.9; Southend-on-Sea median median 3.5
- 2016 4.7; Southend-on-Sea median median 3.5
- 2015 4.0; Southend-on-Sea median median 3.5
- 2014 4.6; Southend-on-Sea median median 3.5
- This school
- Southend-on-Sea median
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
Selective: register for the entrance test with the school first, usually by the summer before (dates vary). Dates
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 | 185 | 856 | 4.6 | 239 | 1.29 |
| Sep 2025 | 178 | 882 | 5.0 | 302 | 1.70 |
| Sep 2024 | 160 | 873 | 5.5 | 262 | 1.64 |
| Sep 2023 | 167 | 891 | 5.3 | 228 | 1.37 |
| Sep 2022 | 182 | 832 | 4.6 | 237 | 1.30 |
| Sep 2021 | 183 | 1,331 | 7.3 | 466 | 2.55 |
| Sep 2020 | 152 | 966 | 6.4 | 266 | 1.75 |
| Sep 2019 | 177 | 1,060 | 6.0 | 313 | 1.77 |
| Sep 2018 | 183 | 923 | 5.0 | 278 | 1.52 |
| Sep 2017 | 180 | 884 | 4.9 | 230 | 1.28 |
| Sep 2016 | 178 | 829 | 4.7 | 215 | 1.21 |
| Sep 2015 | 181 | 732 | 4.0 | 224 | 1.24 |
| Sep 2014 | 146 | 676 | 4.6 | 178 | 1.22 |
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.) | 185 | 73.8 | 96% | 97% | – |
| 2024/25 | 184 | 75.6 | 97% | 100% | – |
| 2023/24 | 172 | 76.9 | 98% | 100% | +0.90 |
| 2022/23 | 184 | 78.5 | 100% | 100% | +0.89 |
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
- Westcliff High School for GirlsThis schoolThis schoolOutstanding20244.6applications per place 73.8Attainment 8 Selective
- 0.1 km · Southend-on-SeaOutstanding20235.7applications per place 77.2Attainment 8 Selective
- 0.3 km · Southend-on-SeaRemains Good20243.2applications per place 52.9Attainment 8
- 1.3 km · Southend-on-SeaStandards maintained20244.6applications per place 51.2Attainment 8
- 1.5 km · Southend-on-SeaSpecial measures 20262.0applications per place 38.5Attainment 8
- 1.9 km · Southend-on-SeaOutstanding20246.2applications per place 75.1Attainment 8 Selective
- 1.9 km · Southend-on-Sea20262.5applications per place 45.9Attainment 8
- 2.7 km · Southend-on-SeaRemains Good20232.7applications per place 51.5Attainment 8
- 4.5 km · Southend-on-SeaGood20232.0applications per place 35.4Attainment 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 converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 136490 · 882/5423
- Admissions policy
- Selective
- Capacity
- 1,224 pupils · 1,354 on roll
- Free school meals
- 8.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 March 2011
- Replaced
- Westcliff High School for Girls (URN 115339)
- Address
- Kenilworth Gardens, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 0BS
- Local authority
- Southend-on-Sea
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources