Academy converter · Essex

Harris Academy Wickford

11–18Ages
1,181Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
139181URN

Grange Avenue, Wickford, SS12 0LZ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 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

3.1per place

0.2 above Essex median (2.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

566 applications for 185 places · 35th of 78 in Essex

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

38.2of 90

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

69th of 79 in Essex

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 15 October 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

3.1applications per place, Year 7

0.2 above Essex median (2.8) 0.8 above England median (2.2)

566 applications · 185 places offered · 135 named it first

2026 3.1; Essex median median 2.8
2025 2.9; Essex median median 2.7
2024 2.6; Essex median median 2.8
2023 2.7; Essex median median 2.7
2022 3.0; Essex median median 2.7
2021 2.2; Essex median median 2.6
2020 2.8; Essex median median 2.8
2019 2.5; Essex median median 2.7
2018 2.5; Essex median median 2.6
2017 2.5; Essex median median 2.7
2016 2.6; Essex median median 2.6
2015 2.3; Essex median median 2.5
2014 2.9; 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	185	566	3.1	135	0.73
Sep 2025	195	564	2.9	144	0.74
Sep 2024	202	533	2.6	128	0.63
Sep 2023	222	607	2.7	145	0.65
Sep 2022	183	543	3.0	147	0.80
Sep 2021	220	493	2.2	135	0.61
Sep 2020	209	579	2.8	165	0.79
Sep 2019	222	549	2.5	189	0.85
Sep 2018	215	533	2.5	168	0.78
Sep 2017	169	415	2.5	123	0.73
Sep 2016	157	406	2.6	126	0.80
Sep 2015	188	429	2.3	138	0.73
Sep 2014	171	489	2.9	135	0.79

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

190 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)38.269th of 79 in Essex

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths25%73rd of 79 in Essex

Essex 43% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths48%

Essex 66% England 66%

This school
Essex median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.50

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	190	38.2	25%	48%	–
2024/25	194	35.9	25%	52%	–
2023/24	211	38.2	28%	51%	−0.50
2022/23	224	38.1	28%	49%	−0.42

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

Harris Academy WickfordThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.1applications per place 38.2Attainment 8
Beauchamps High School
2.5 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.1applications per place 45.6Attainment 8
The Basildon Lower Academy
3.8 km · Essex

Requires significant improvement 2026

0.9applications per place
De La Salle School
4.1 km · Essex

Remains Good2024

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

Good2023

26.9Attainment 8
Harris Academy Benfleet
5.6 km · Essex

Standards maintained2024

2.6applications per place 39.0Attainment 8
Harris Academy Kingswood
5.7 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

3.8applications per place 44.4Attainment 8
The James Hornsby School
6.3 km · Essex

2026

4.0applications per place 41.8Attainment 8
Harris Academy Billericay
6.3 km · Essex

Remains Good2024

3.8applications per place 47.3Attainment 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: 139181 · 881/5407
Trust: Harris Federation
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,260 pupils · 1,181 on roll
Free school meals: 24.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: SEN unit
Opened: 1 January 2013
Replaced: The Bromfords School (URN 115323)
Address: Grange Avenue, Wickford, SS12 0LZ
Local authority: Essex · Basildon

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