Academy sponsor led · Essex

The James Hornsby School

11–16Ages
1,040Pupils
SecondaryPhase
138865URN

Leinster Road, Laindon, Basildon, SS15 5NX · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Feb 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

4.0per place

1.1 above Essex median (2.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

804 applications for 202 places · 10th of 78 in Essex

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

41.8of 90

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

56th of 79 in Essex

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 3 February 2026Published 19 April 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Strong standard	Expected standard	Needs attention
Inclusion			Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching			Expected standard
Achievement				Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour			Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing		Strong standard
Early years	Does not apply to this school
Post-16 provision	Does not apply to this school
Leadership and governance			Expected standard

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

3 February 2026
Report card · 1 Strong standard, 4 Expected standard, 1 Needs attention
6 October 2021
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

4.0applications per place, Year 7

1.1 above Essex median (2.8) 1.8 above England median (2.2)

804 applications · 202 places offered · 259 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 4.0; Essex median median 2.8
2025 3.9; Essex median median 2.7
2024 3.7; Essex median median 2.8
2023 3.4; Essex median median 2.7
2022 3.0; Essex median median 2.7
2021 3.0; Essex median median 2.6
2020 3.0; Essex median median 2.8
2019 3.2; Essex median median 2.7
2018 2.6; Essex median median 2.6
2017 2.5; Essex median median 2.7
2016 2.1; Essex median median 2.6
2015 1.8; Essex median median 2.5
2014 2.1; 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	202	804	4.0	259	1.28
Sep 2025	205	799	3.9	245	1.20
Sep 2024	210	769	3.7	269	1.28
Sep 2023	207	706	3.4	245	1.18
Sep 2022	205	614	3.0	230	1.12
Sep 2021	209	624	3.0	197	0.94
Sep 2020	205	607	3.0	205	1.00
Sep 2019	173	549	3.2	212	1.23
Sep 2018	177	465	2.6	195	1.10
Sep 2017	180	441	2.5	178	0.99
Sep 2016	165	350	2.1	129	0.78
Sep 2015	170	306	1.8	107	0.63
Sep 2014	164	339	2.1	126	0.77

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

205 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)41.856th of 79 in Essex

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths33%63rd of 79 in Essex

Essex 43% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths54%

Essex 66% England 66%

This school
Essex median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.32

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	205	41.8	33%	54%	–
2024/25	202	38.9	26%	46%	–
2023/24	174	40.2	30%	48%	−0.32
2022/23	172	41.8	28%	55%	−0.32

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

The James Hornsby SchoolThis school
This school

2026

4.0applications per place 41.8Attainment 8
Harris Academy Kingswood
2.2 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

3.8applications per place 44.4Attainment 8
De La Salle School
2.5 km · Essex

Remains Good2024

5.2applications per place 46.0Attainment 8
The Basildon Lower Academy
4.1 km · Essex

Requires significant improvement 2026

0.9applications per place
Harris Academy Billericay
4.8 km · Essex

Remains Good2024

3.8applications per place 47.3Attainment 8
Mossbourne Fobbing Academy
4.9 km · Thurrock

Serious weaknesses Inadequate2022

1.6applications per place 46.5Attainment 8
The Basildon Upper Academy
5.2 km · Essex

Good2023

26.9Attainment 8
Harris Academy Wickford
6.3 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.1applications per place 38.2Attainment 8
Mossbourne Port Side Academy
6.5 km · Thurrock

Requires improvement2023

2.6applications per place 42.0Attainment 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 sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 138865 · 881/4007
Trust: Zenith Multi Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 900 pupils · 1,040 on roll
Free school meals: 48.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 October 2012
Replaced: The James Hornsby High School (URN 131654)
Address: Leinster Road, Laindon, Basildon, SS15 5NX
Local authority: Essex · Basildon

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