Academy converter · Essex

Lift Tendring

11–19Ages
1,464Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137188URN

Rochford Way, Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 0AZ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · May 2024 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.5per place

1.4 below Essex median (2.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

335 applications for 228 places · 70th of 78 in Essex

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

40.6of 90

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

60th of 79 in Essex

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 21 May 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

Inspection history

21 May 2024
Graded inspection: Good
27 November 2019
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good (Concerns)

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

1.5applications per place, Year 7

1.4 below Essex median (2.8) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

335 applications · 228 places offered · 210 named it first

2026 1.5; Essex median median 2.8
2025 1.4; Essex median median 2.7
2024 1.5; Essex median median 2.8
2023 1.3; Essex median median 2.7
2022 1.6; Essex median median 2.7
2021 1.4; Essex median median 2.6
2020 1.5; Essex median median 2.8
2019 1.6; Essex median median 2.7
2018 1.6; Essex median median 2.6
2017 1.6; Essex median median 2.7
2016 1.8; Essex median median 2.6
2015 1.7; Essex median median 2.5
2014 1.8; 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	228	335	1.5	210	0.92
Sep 2025	242	342	1.4	215	0.89
Sep 2024	230	342	1.5	203	0.88
Sep 2023	284	361	1.3	207	0.73
Sep 2022	283	439	1.6	245	0.87
Sep 2021	321	440	1.4	273	0.85
Sep 2020	325	474	1.5	287	0.88
Sep 2019	308	495	1.6	295	0.96
Sep 2018	305	483	1.6	281	0.92
Sep 2017	293	480	1.6	280	0.96
Sep 2016	291	524	1.8	273	0.94
Sep 2015	328	540	1.7	323	0.98
Sep 2014	317	558	1.8	304	0.96

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

288 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)40.660th of 79 in Essex

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths35%61st of 79 in Essex

Essex 43% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths60%

Essex 66% England 66%

This school
Essex median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.36

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	288	40.6	35%	60%	–
2024/25	297	36.9	31%	54%	–
2023/24	303	38.9	35%	56%	−0.36
2022/23	296	40.8	36%	56%	−0.19

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 TendringThis school
This school

Good2024

1.5applications per place 40.6Attainment 8
Clacton County High School
8.1 km · Essex

Standards maintained2024

1.6applications per place 37.5Attainment 8
Lift Clacton
9.0 km · Essex

Good2024

1.4applications per place 29.6Attainment 8
Harwich and Dovercourt High School
9.7 km · Essex

Requires significant improvement 2026

1.1applications per place 34.1Attainment 8
Felixstowe School
15.5 km · Suffolk

Good2024

1.0applications per place 40.3Attainment 8
Colne Community School
16.1 km · Essex

Good2023

1.3applications per place 42.3Attainment 8
Manningtree High School
17.5 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.4applications per place 49.2Attainment 8
Holbrook Academy
17.5 km · Suffolk

2026

1.7applications per place 40.1Attainment 8
Ipswich Academy
21.3 km · Suffolk

Requires improvement2024

0.9applications per place 40.3Attainment 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 converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137188 · 881/5432
Trust: Lift Schools
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,980 pupils · 1,464 on roll
Free school meals: 31.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 August 2011
Replaced: Tendring Technology College (URN 115348)
Address: Rochford Way, Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 0AZ
Local authority: Essex · Tendring

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