Academy converter · Essex

William de Ferrers School

11–18Ages
1,237Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
136605URN

Trinity Square, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, CM3 5JU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Sep 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.9per place

0.9 below Essex median (2.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

416 applications for 215 places · 57th of 78 in Essex

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

43.8of 90

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

47th of 79 in Essex

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 24 September 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education		Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes	Good
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management	Good
Sixth form provision	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 entry

1.9applications per place, Year 7

0.9 below Essex median (2.8) 0.3 below England median (2.2)

416 applications · 215 places offered · 208 named it first

2026 1.9; Essex median median 2.8
2025 2.0; Essex median median 2.7
2024 1.8; Essex median median 2.8
2023 1.6; Essex median median 2.7
2022 1.9; Essex median median 2.7
2021 1.4; Essex median median 2.6
2020 1.5; Essex median median 2.8
2019 1.4; Essex median median 2.7
2018 1.6; Essex median median 2.6
2017 1.7; Essex median median 2.7
2016 1.7; Essex median median 2.6
2015 1.7; Essex median median 2.5
2014 1.7; Essex median median 2.6

More applications per place than the Essex median in 0 of 13 years.

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	416	1.9	208	0.97
Sep 2025	216	434	2.0	202	0.94
Sep 2024	216	385	1.8	170	0.79
Sep 2023	274	432	1.6	209	0.76
Sep 2022	175	333	1.9	155	0.89
Sep 2021	233	318	1.4	176	0.76
Sep 2020	203	303	1.5	171	0.84
Sep 2019	204	278	1.4	163	0.80
Sep 2018	188	305	1.6	162	0.86
Sep 2017	203	352	1.7	188	0.93
Sep 2016	218	362	1.7	178	0.82
Sep 2015	235	391	1.7	220	0.94
Sep 2014	287	479	1.7	244	0.85

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

234 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)43.847th of 79 in Essex

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths42%42nd of 79 in Essex

Essex 43% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths62%

Essex 66% England 66%

This school
Essex median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.41

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	234	43.8	42%	62%	–
2024/25	216	44.1	39%	69%	–
2023/24	218	41.2	39%	61%	−0.41
2022/23	183	38.7	27%	50%	−0.66

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

William de Ferrers SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.9applications per place 43.8Attainment 8
Lift Greensward
5.4 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

2.6applications per place 50.5Attainment 8
The Sweyne Park School
5.8 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.5applications per place 41.3Attainment 8
The FitzWimarc School
6.2 km · Essex

Good2022

3.6applications per place 47.3Attainment 8
Beauchamps High School
6.5 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.1applications per place 45.6Attainment 8
The King Edmund School
7.9 km · Essex

Good2024

2.2applications per place 39.3Attainment 8
The Deanes
8.7 km · Essex

Good2023

3.9applications per place 32.2Attainment 8
Harris Academy Wickford
8.9 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.1applications per place 38.2Attainment 8
The Eastwood Academy
9.6 km · Southend-on-Sea

Standards maintained2024

4.6applications per place 51.2Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 136605 · 881/5427
Trust: The Chelmsford Learning Partnership
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 2,076 pupils · 1,237 on roll
Free school meals: 13.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2011
Replaced: William de Ferrers School (URN 115343)
Address: Trinity Square, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, CM3 5JU
Local authority: Essex · Chelmsford

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources