Schoolfile
Search

Academy converter · Essex

The Boswells School

  • 11–18Ages
  • 1,423Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 137874URN

Burnham Road, Chelmsford, CM1 6LY · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted
Graded GoodApr 2013
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Feb 2023
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
3.6per place
0.7 above Essex median (2.8)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

860 applications for 241 places · 20th of 78 in Essex
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
49.1of 90
22nd of 79 in Essex
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Graded GoodApr 2013
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Feb 2023

Inspection history

  1. 22 February 2023
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
  2. 24 April 2013
    Graded 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 entry
3.6applications per place, Year 7
0.7 above Essex median (2.8) 1.3 above England median (2.2)

860 applications · 241 places offered · 247 named it first

  1. 2026 3.6; Essex median median 2.8
  2. 2025 3.5; Essex median median 2.7
  3. 2024 3.5; Essex median median 2.8
  4. 2023 3.5; Essex median median 2.7
  5. 2022 3.2; Essex median median 2.7
  6. 2021 2.9; Essex median median 2.6
  7. 2020 2.9; Essex median median 2.8
  8. 2019 2.8; Essex median median 2.7
  9. 2018 3.0; Essex median median 2.6
  10. 2017 3.2; Essex median median 2.7
  11. 2016 3.0; Essex median median 2.6
  12. 2015 2.9; Essex median median 2.5
  13. 2014 2.8; Essex median median 2.6
More applications per place than the Essex median in 13 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262418603.62471.02
Sep 20252418463.52190.91
Sep 20242458533.52210.90
Sep 20232378183.52391.01
Sep 20222397663.22350.98
Sep 20212406972.91720.72
Sep 20202376852.91790.76
Sep 20192426762.81800.74
Sep 20182437373.02290.94
Sep 20172397583.22871.20
Sep 20162357153.02441.04
Sep 20152427112.92350.97
Sep 20142416842.82270.94

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

239 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)49.122nd of 79 in Essex
Grade 5 or above in English and maths47%33rd of 79 in Essex
Grade 4 or above in English and maths71%
  • This school
  • Essex median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.16
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)23949.147%71%–
2024/2524048.446%70%–
2023/2424346.448%67%−0.16
2022/2324648.746%71%+0.29

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

  • 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
137874 · 881/5416
Trust
The Chelmsford Learning Partnership
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,431 pupils · 1,423 on roll
Free school meals
16.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 February 2012
Replaced
The Boswells School (URN 115332)
Address
Burnham Road, Chelmsford, CM1 6LY
Local authority
Essex · Chelmsford

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