Academy converter · Thurrock

William Edwards School

11–16Ages
984Pupils
SecondaryPhase
137214URN

Stifford Clays Road, Stifford Clays, Grays, RM16 3NJ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Mar 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.7per place

close to Thurrock median (2.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Thurrock

429 applications for 159 places · 5th of 13 in Thurrock

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

41.8of 90

Thurrock 46.5 England 46.0

12th of 13 in Thurrock

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 10 March 2026Published 9 June 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Expected standard	Needs attention
Inclusion		Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching			Needs attention
Achievement			Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour		Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing		Expected standard
Early years	Does not apply to this school
Post-16 provision	Does not apply to this school
Leadership and governance			Needs attention

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

10 March 2026
Report card · 3 Expected standard, 3 Needs attention
7 November 2023
Graded inspection: Requires improvement

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

2.7applications per place, Year 7

close to Thurrock median (2.6) 0.5 above England median (2.2)

429 applications · 159 places offered · 90 named it first

2026 2.7; Thurrock median median 2.6
2025 2.1; Thurrock median median 2.4
2024 2.7; Thurrock median median 2.6
2023 3.2; Thurrock median median 2.2
2022 2.3; Thurrock median median 2.2
2021 2.5; Thurrock median median 2.1
2020 3.3; Thurrock median median 1.9
2019 4.0; Thurrock median median 1.7
2018 3.5; Thurrock median median 1.8
2017 3.7; Thurrock median median 1.9
2016 3.7; Thurrock median median 1.9
2015 3.4; Thurrock median median 1.9
2014 3.1; Thurrock median median 1.7

More applications per place than the Thurrock median in 12 of 13 years.

This school
Thurrock 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	159	429	2.7	90	0.57
Sep 2025	201	427	2.1	93	0.46
Sep 2024	206	548	2.7	158	0.77
Sep 2023	210	680	3.2	221	1.05
Sep 2022	250	572	2.3	176	0.70
Sep 2021	248	627	2.5	174	0.70
Sep 2020	250	825	3.3	290	1.16
Sep 2019	245	969	4.0	394	1.61
Sep 2018	277	955	3.5	383	1.38
Sep 2017	247	901	3.7	321	1.30
Sep 2016	245	896	3.7	315	1.29
Sep 2015	241	830	3.4	303	1.26
Sep 2014	239	740	3.1	313	1.31

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

214 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)41.812th of 13 in Thurrock

Thurrock 46.5 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths37%12th of 13 in Thurrock

Thurrock 46% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths54%

Thurrock 66% England 66%

This school
Thurrock median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.29

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	214	41.8	37%	54%	–
2024/25	233	42.5	35%	55%	–
2023/24	243	43.8	41%	64%	−0.29
2022/23	264	44.4	41%	68%	−0.41

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 Edwards SchoolThis school
This school

2026

2.7applications per place 41.8Attainment 8
The Hathaway Academy
1.6 km · Thurrock

Remains Good2024

2.5applications per place 45.5Attainment 8
Orsett Heath Academy
1.6 km · Thurrock

Good2023

3.7applications per place 42.0Attainment 8
Grays Convent High School
2.3 km · Thurrock

Remains Good2023

1.8applications per place 51.5Attainment 8
Thames Park Secondary School
3.3 km · Thurrock

Good2023

3.3applications per place 49.1Attainment 8
Harris Academy Chafford Hundred
3.7 km · Thurrock

Outstanding2024

4.6applications per place 56.5Attainment 8
The Gateway Academy
3.7 km · Thurrock

Standards maintained2024

2.1applications per place 50.0Attainment 8
Harris Academy Ockendon
4.0 km · Thurrock

Outstanding2024

2.6applications per place 47.7Attainment 8
Park Academy
5.4 km · Thurrock

Requires improvement2024

1.6applications per place 37.6Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137214 · 883/5438
Trust: South West Essex Community Education Trust Limited
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,200 pupils · 984 on roll
Free school meals: 22.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 August 2011
Replaced: William Edwards School and Sports College (URN 115354)
Address: Stifford Clays Road, Stifford Clays, Grays, RM16 3NJ
Local authority: Thurrock

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