This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 20 November 2024Ungraded inspection: Standards maintained
- 12 February 2019Graded 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 entry761 applications · 297 places offered · 203 named it first
- 2026 2.6; Essex median median 2.8
- 2025 2.6; Essex median median 2.7
- 2024 2.8; Essex median median 2.8
- 2023 2.9; Essex median median 2.7
- 2022 2.5; Essex median median 2.7
- 2021 2.8; Essex median median 2.6
- 2020 2.9; Essex median median 2.8
- 2019 3.5; Essex median median 2.7
- 2018 3.3; Essex median median 2.6
- 2017 3.0; Essex median median 2.7
- 2016 3.1; Essex median median 2.6
- 2015 3.0; Essex median median 2.5
- 2014 2.9; 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 | 297 | 761 | 2.6 | 203 | 0.68 |
| Sep 2025 | 296 | 773 | 2.6 | 218 | 0.74 |
| Sep 2024 | 270 | 756 | 2.8 | 216 | 0.80 |
| Sep 2023 | 268 | 768 | 2.9 | 275 | 1.03 |
| Sep 2022 | 300 | 763 | 2.5 | 300 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2021 | 300 | 834 | 2.8 | 311 | 1.04 |
| Sep 2020 | 293 | 834 | 2.9 | 292 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2019 | 268 | 933 | 3.5 | 335 | 1.25 |
| Sep 2018 | 263 | 877 | 3.3 | 289 | 1.10 |
| Sep 2017 | 297 | 900 | 3.0 | 370 | 1.25 |
| Sep 2016 | 266 | 819 | 3.1 | 303 | 1.14 |
| Sep 2015 | 266 | 796 | 3.0 | 290 | 1.09 |
| Sep 2014 | 261 | 752 | 2.9 | 230 | 0.88 |
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.) | 280 | 39.0 | 36% | 58% | – |
| 2024/25 | 286 | 39.6 | 32% | 58% | – |
| 2023/24 | 254 | 41.9 | 41% | 66% | −0.63 |
| 2022/23 | 264 | 47.0 | 47% | 71% | −0.28 |
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
- Harris Academy BenfleetThis schoolThis schoolStandards maintained20242.6applications per place 39.0Attainment 8
- 3.0 km · Essex20263.2applications per place 51.6Attainment 8
- 3.3 km · EssexGood20233.9applications per place 32.2Attainment 8
- 3.4 km · EssexGood202326.9Attainment 8
- 4.1 km · EssexSpecial measures Inadequate2023
- 4.5 km · EssexRequires significant improvement 20260.9applications per place
- 4.8 km · EssexGraded · no overall grade20253.5applications per place 41.3Attainment 8
- 5.1 km · EssexGood20223.6applications per place 47.3Attainment 8
- 5.6 km · EssexRequires improvement20231.3applications per place 40.9Attainment 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
- 136579 · 881/5418
- Trust
- Harris Federation
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,500 pupils · 1,597 on roll
- Free school meals
- 18.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 April 2011
- Replaced
- The Appleton School (URN 115334)
- Address
- Croft Road, Benfleet, SS7 5RN
- Local authority
- Essex · Castle Point
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources