Skip to content
OfferDay
Best schools Browse Guides Insights Answers Search

Secondary schools in Essex, ranked

The 78 secondary schools here are ranked by their average Attainment 8 score in 2024/25, from the Department for Education's published results. Progress 8 is suspended nationally for 2024/25 and 2025/26, so it cannot be used.

Exam results are one part of the picture, and rankings never include Ofsted judgements: inspections from different eras cannot fairly be compared. Special schools and independent schools are not ranked, because their published figures do not compare fairly either. Each school's own page has its inspection history and context.

  1. 1
    83.3
    Attainment 8
  2. 2
    82.1
    Attainment 8
  3. 3
    80.7
    Attainment 8
  4. 4
    80.6
    Attainment 8
  5. 5
    61.0
    Attainment 8
  6. 6
    59.7
    Attainment 8
  7. 7
    Moulsham High School

    Academy converter

    58.3
    Attainment 8
  8. 8
    57.1
    Attainment 8
  9. 9
    Davenant Foundation School

    Academy converter

    56.7
    Attainment 8
  10. 10
    56.0
    Attainment 8
  11. 11
    Anglo European School

    Academy converter

    55.6
    Attainment 8
  12. 12
    St Benedict's Catholic College

    Voluntary aided school

    54.7
    Attainment 8
  13. 13
    The Gilberd School

    Academy converter

    53.4
    Attainment 8
  14. 14
    Great Baddow High School

    Academy converter

    50.0
    Attainment 8
  15. 15
    The Billericay School

    Academy converter

    50.0
    Attainment 8
  16. 16
    49.9
    Attainment 8
  17. 17
    The King John School

    Academy converter

    49.6
    Attainment 8
  18. 18
    West Hatch High School

    Academy converter

    49.5
    Attainment 8
  19. 19
    Lift Greensward

    Academy sponsor led

    49.4
    Attainment 8
  20. 20
    Manningtree High School

    Academy converter

    48.6
    Attainment 8
  21. 21
    The Boswells School

    Academy converter

    48.4
    Attainment 8
  22. 22
    Debden Park High School

    Academy converter

    48.3
    Attainment 8
  23. 23
    The Stanway School

    Academy converter

    48.2
    Attainment 8
  24. 24
    Beauchamps High School

    Foundation school

    48.1
    Attainment 8
  25. 25
    Mayflower High School

    Academy converter

    47.6
    Attainment 8
  26. 26
    Roding Valley High School

    Academy converter

    47.1
    Attainment 8
  27. 27
    Helena Romanes School

    Academy converter

    46.6
    Attainment 8
  28. 28
    The Sandon School

    Academy converter

    46.6
    Attainment 8
  29. 29
    Honywood School

    Academy converter

    46.3
    Attainment 8
  30. 30
    46.3
    Attainment 8
  31. 31
    St Helena School

    Academy converter

    46.0
    Attainment 8
  32. 32
    St Martin's School Brentwood

    Academy converter

    45.9
    Attainment 8
  33. 33
    Alec Hunter Academy

    Academy sponsor led

    45.7
    Attainment 8
  34. 34
    Chelmer Valley High School

    Academy converter

    45.3
    Attainment 8
  35. 35
    Shenfield High School

    Academy converter

    45.3
    Attainment 8
  36. 36
    Burnt Mill Academy

    Academy converter

    45.2
    Attainment 8
  37. 37
    The FitzWimarc School

    Academy converter

    45.2
    Attainment 8
  38. 38
    44.9
    Attainment 8
  39. 39
    44.9
    Attainment 8
  40. 40
    44.5
    Attainment 8
  41. 41
    William de Ferrers School

    Academy converter

    44.1
    Attainment 8
  42. 42
    The Sweyne Park School

    Academy converter

    44.0
    Attainment 8
  43. 43
    44.0
    Attainment 8
  44. 44
    Brentwood County High School

    Academy sponsor led

    43.2
    Attainment 8
  45. 45
    Colne Community School

    Academy converter

    43.0
    Attainment 8
  46. 46
    Plume School

    Academy converter

    42.9
    Attainment 8
  47. 47
    42.8
    Attainment 8
  48. 48
    The Thomas Lord Audley School

    Academy converter

    42.3
    Attainment 8
  49. 49
    Woodlands School

    Academy sponsor led

    42.1
    Attainment 8
  50. 50
    Thurstable School

    Academy converter

    41.9
    Attainment 8
  51. 51
    Ormiston Rivers Academy

    Academy sponsor led

    41.9
    Attainment 8
  52. 52
    De La Salle School

    Voluntary aided school

    41.8
    Attainment 8
  53. 53
    Paxman Academy

    Free schools

    41.3
    Attainment 8
  54. 54
    Lift New Rickstones

    Academy sponsor led

    40.6
    Attainment 8
  55. 55
    Forest Hall School

    Academy sponsor led

    40.6
    Attainment 8
  56. 56
    Lift Maltings

    Academy sponsor led

    39.9
    Attainment 8
  57. 57
    39.9
    Attainment 8
  58. 58
    The Appleton School

    Academy converter

    39.6
    Attainment 8
  59. 59
    The Ramsey Academy, Halstead

    Academy sponsor led

    39.3
    Attainment 8
  60. 60
    38.9
    Attainment 8
  61. 61
    Mark Hall Academy

    Academy sponsor led

    38.9
    Attainment 8
  62. 62
    The James Hornsby School

    Academy sponsor led

    38.9
    Attainment 8
  63. 63
    Clacton County High School

    Academy converter

    38.6
    Attainment 8
  64. 64
    Tabor Academy

    Academy converter

    38.5
    Attainment 8
  65. 65
    Colchester Academy

    Academy sponsor led

    38.5
    Attainment 8
  66. 66
    Hylands School

    Academy converter

    37.8
    Attainment 8
  67. 67
    37.6
    Attainment 8
  68. 68
    The Ongar Academy

    Free schools

    37.4
    Attainment 8
  69. 69
    Lift Tendring

    Academy converter

    36.9
    Attainment 8
  70. 70
    36.5
    Attainment 8
  71. 71
    The King Edmund School

    Academy converter

    36.3
    Attainment 8
  72. 72
    Castle View School

    Academy converter

    36.0
    Attainment 8
  73. 73
    The Bromfords School

    Academy converter

    35.9
    Attainment 8
  74. 74
    Passmores Academy

    Academy converter

    34.8
    Attainment 8
  75. 75
    The Deanes

    Academy sponsor led

    34.4
    Attainment 8
  76. 76
    Lift Clacton

    Academy sponsor led

    30.0
    Attainment 8
  77. 77
    The Basildon Upper Academy

    Academy sponsor led

    28.7
    Attainment 8
  78. 78
    Bmat Stem Academy

    University technical college

    28.1
    Attainment 8

Common questions

Which is the best secondary school in Essex?
By 2024/25 exam results alone, King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford ranks first of 78 ranked secondary schools in Essex, with an average Attainment 8 score of 83.3. Results reflect each school's cohort as well as its teaching, so treat the ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict.
How are schools in Essex ranked?
Secondary schools are ranked by their average Attainment 8 score in 2024/25, from the Department for Education's published results; Progress 8 is suspended nationally, so it cannot be used. Ofsted judgements are never part of the ranking, because inspections from different eras cannot fairly be compared, and special and independent schools are not ranked because their published figures do not compare fairly.
How many secondary schools are ranked in Essex?
78 secondary schools in Essex published 2024/25 results and are ranked here. Schools without published results, special schools and independent schools are listed on the area's own page instead.

Exam results come from the Department for Education's school performance service and cover the 2024/25 academic year. Schools without published results for that year are not listed.