Best Secondary Schools in Essex

We checked all 94 secondary schools in Essex and list every one: 78 ranked, then 16 without a rank.

Schools checked: 94
Ranked: 78
Without a rank: 16

Ranks combine 2024/25 GCSE results, worth 60% of each school's score, with the latest Ofsted outcome, worth 40%, as how we rank schools sets out. Rank 1 is the highest score across Essex, and each school's town is shown. Schools with the same score share a rank. Schools without published results or an Ofsted outcome follow the ranked schools, in name order.

Essex also has 459 primary schools, ranked on SATs results and Ofsted. Every school in the area is also listed with the other schools in Essex. Essex also has rankings for Basildon, Billericay, Braintree, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping, Harlow and Loughton.

Ranked secondary schools in Essex

Rank 1
Colchester County High School for Girls
Colchester, Academy, Selective, 1,198 pupils, inspected November 2023
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
80.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
100%
Rank 2
Chelmsford County High School for Girls
Chelmsford, Academy, Selective, 1,275 pupils, inspected January 2024
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
80.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
99.4%
Rank 3
Colchester Royal Grammar School
Colchester, Academy, Selective, 1,073 pupils, inspected April 2026
Report card: Strong standard to exceptional
Attainment 8
82.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
100%
Rank 4
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
Chelmsford, Academy, Selective, 1,153 pupils, inspected February 2026
Report card: Strong standard to exceptional
Attainment 8
83.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
100%
Rank 5
Saffron Walden County High School
Saffron Walden, Academy, 2,157 pupils, inspected March 2024
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
59.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
66.3%
Rank 6
Becket Keys Church of England Free School
Brentwood, Free school, 1,152 pupils, inspected February 2025
Ofsted judgements: Outstanding
Attainment 8
56.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
68.6%
Rank 7
The Beaulieu Park School
Chelmsford, Free school, 1,763 pupils, inspected January 2023
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
57.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
62.6%
Rank 8
The Gilberd School
Colchester, Academy, 1,588 pupils, inspected November 2018
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
53.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
58.2%
Rank 9
Davenant Foundation School
Loughton, Academy, 1,199 pupils, inspected January 2026
Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
Attainment 8
56.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
67.8%
Rank 10
Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School
Brentwood, Academy, 991 pupils, inspected March 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
61.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
77.8%
Rank 11
Moulsham High School
Chelmsford, Academy, 1,662 pupils, inspected January 2020
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
58.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
66.4%
Rank 12
St Benedict's Catholic College
Colchester, Local authority maintained, 905 pupils, inspected November 2013
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
54.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
61.7%
Rank 13
Anglo European School
Ingatestone, Academy, 1,533 pupils, inspected March 2024
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
55.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
57%
Rank 14
Great Baddow High School
Chelmsford, Academy, 1,516 pupils, inspected March 2026
Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
Attainment 8
50.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
55.8%
Rank 15
The King John School
Benfleet, Academy, 2,098 pupils, inspected January 2026
Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
Attainment 8
49.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
50.3%
Rank 16
Debden Park High School
Loughton, Academy, 1,046 pupils, inspected March 2025
Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding
Attainment 8
48.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
50.3%
Rank 17
Lift Greensward
Hockley, Academy, 1,605 pupils, inspected June 2014
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
49.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
55.8%
Rank 18
St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford
Chelmsford, Local authority maintained, 1,241 pupils, inspected January 2016
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
49.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
50.8%
Rank 19
The Stanway School
Colchester, Academy, 1,396 pupils, inspected May 2013
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
48.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
54.4%
Rank 20
West Hatch High School
Chigwell, Academy, 1,573 pupils, inspected September 2013
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
49.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
50.8%
Rank 21
Manningtree High School
Manningtree, Academy, 908 pupils, inspected January 2025
Ofsted judgements: Good
Attainment 8
48.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
52.7%
Rank 22
The Billericay School
Billericay, Academy, 1,729 pupils, inspected May 2018
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
50.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
48.3%
Rank 23
Beauchamps High School
Wickford, Local authority maintained, 1,486 pupils, inspected January 2025
Ofsted judgements: Good
Attainment 8
48.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
52.5%
Rank 24
Mayflower High School
Billericay, Academy, 1,616 pupils, inspected December 2025
Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
Attainment 8
47.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
46.5%
Rank 25
The Boswells School
Chelmsford, Academy, 1,423 pupils, inspected April 2013
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
48.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
46.3%
Rank 26
Helena Romanes School
Great Dunmow, Academy, 1,265 pupils, inspected October 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
46.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
49.5%
Rank 26
Roding Valley High School
Loughton, Academy, 1,473 pupils, inspected September 2022
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
47.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
48.1%
Rank 28
St Martin's School Brentwood
Brentwood, Academy, 1,794 pupils, inspected September 2024
Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding
Attainment 8
45.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
45.4%
Rank 29
Honywood School
Colchester, Academy, 849 pupils, inspected December 2022
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
46.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
47.5%
Rank 30
Alec Hunter Academy
Braintree, Academy, 1,058 pupils, inspected July 2017
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
45.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
48.6%
Rank 31
Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport
Saffron Walden, Academy, 865 pupils, inspected June 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
44.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
47.5%
Rank 32
Burnt Mill Academy
Harlow, Academy, 959 pupils, inspected February 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
45.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
44.1%
Rank 33
The Sweyne Park School
Rayleigh, Academy, 1,429 pupils, inspected May 2025
Ofsted judgements: Good
Attainment 8
44.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
46.6%
Rank 34
Chelmer Valley High School
Chelmsford, Academy, 1,200 pupils, inspected June 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
45.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
43.1%
Rank 35
St Mark's West Essex Catholic School
Harlow, Academy, 1,099 pupils, inspected February 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
46.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
38.8%
Rank 36
The FitzWimarc School
Rayleigh, Academy, 1,770 pupils, inspected October 2022
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
45.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
41.2%
Rank 37
Shenfield High School
Brentwood, Academy, 1,528 pupils, inspected November 2014
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
45.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
40.3%
Rank 38
Brentwood County High School
Brentwood, Academy, 1,097 pupils, inspected March 2026
Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
Attainment 8
43.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
42.5%
Rank 38
Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Form
Braintree, Academy, 1,210 pupils, inspected May 2026
Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
Attainment 8
44.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
37.6%
Rank 40
St Helena School
Colchester, Academy, 986 pupils, inspected January 2024
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
46.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
36.3%
Rank 41
The Thomas Lord Audley School
Colchester, Academy, 940 pupils, inspected April 2016
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
42.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
41.9%
Rank 42
Thurstable School
Colchester, Academy, 932 pupils, inspected May 2025
Ofsted judgements: Good
Attainment 8
41.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
42%
Rank 43
Colne Community School
Colchester, Academy, 1,289 pupils, inspected June 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
43.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
39.7%
Rank 44
Philip Morant School and College
Colchester, Academy, 1,888 pupils, inspected September 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
44.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
36.7%
Rank 45
Epping St John's Church of England School
Epping, Academy, 1,036 pupils, inspected March 2026
Report card: Needs attention to expected standard
Attainment 8
42.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
42.1%
Rank 46
De La Salle School
Basildon, Local authority maintained, 761 pupils, inspected October 2018
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
41.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
39.5%
Rank 47
William de Ferrers School
Chelmsford, Academy, 1,237 pupils, inspected September 2024
Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good
Attainment 8
44.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
38.9%
Rank 48
Plume School
Maldon, Academy, 1,789 pupils, inspected November 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
42.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
37%
Rank 49
The Sandon School
Chelmsford, Academy, 1,218 pupils, inspected March 2024
Ofsted: Requires improvement
Attainment 8
46.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
42.3%
Rank 50
Sir Frederick Gibberd College
Harlow, Free school, 880 pupils, inspected December 2024
Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good
Attainment 8
44.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
43.8%
Rank 51
Woodlands School
Basildon, Academy, 1,513 pupils, inspected March 2018
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
42.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
32.9%
Rank 52
Paxman Academy
Colchester, Free school, 873 pupils, inspected February 2024
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
41.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
34.3%
Rank 53
Lift Maltings
Witham, Academy, 787 pupils, inspected March 2026
Report card: Needs attention to expected standard
Attainment 8
39.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
42.2%
Rank 54
Lift New Rickstones
Witham, Academy, 1,221 pupils, inspected May 2018
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
40.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
35.2%
Rank 55
Ormiston Rivers Academy
Burnham-on-Crouch, Academy, 1,103 pupils, inspected July 2013
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
41.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
29.2%
Rank 56
Forest Hall School
Stansted Mountfitchet, Academy, 506 pupils, inspected February 2026
Report card: Needs attention to strong standard
Attainment 8
40.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
34.6%
Rank 57
The Appleton School
Benfleet, Academy, 1,597 pupils, inspected February 2019
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
39.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
31.5%
Rank 58
Colchester Academy
Colchester, Academy, 879 pupils, inspected March 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
38.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
31.3%
Rank 59
Hedingham School and Sixth Form
Halstead, Academy, 1,177 pupils, inspected May 2013
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
39.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
27.1%
Rank 60
Clacton County High School
Clacton-on-Sea, Academy, 1,886 pupils, inspected September 2018
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
38.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
30.1%
Rank 61
Lift Tendring
Frinton-on-Sea, Academy, 1,464 pupils, inspected May 2024
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
36.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
30.6%
Rank 62
The James Hornsby School
Basildon, Academy, 1,040 pupils, inspected February 2026
Report card: Needs attention to strong standard
Attainment 8
38.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
26.2%
Rank 63
The Ramsey Academy, Halstead
Halstead, Academy, 702 pupils, inspected September 2024
Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good
Attainment 8
39.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
29.3%
Rank 64
Mark Hall Academy
Harlow, Academy, 867 pupils, inspected March 2025
Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good
Attainment 8
38.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
29.7%
Rank 64
The Ongar Academy
Ongar, Free school, 467 pupils, inspected May 2018
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
37.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
25.9%
Rank 66
The King Edmund School
Rochford, Academy, 1,318 pupils, inspected January 2024
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
36.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
22.5%
Rank 67
Passmores Academy
Harlow, Academy, 1,199 pupils, inspected May 2018
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
34.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
21.4%
Rank 68
The Deanes
Benfleet, Academy, 588 pupils, inspected September 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
34.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
17.3%
Rank 69
The Bromfords School
Wickford, Academy, 1,181 pupils, inspected October 2024
Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good
Attainment 8
35.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
24.7%
Rank 70
The Basildon Upper Academy
Basildon, Academy, 847 pupils, inspected November 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
28.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
20.9%
Rank 71
Lift Clacton
Clacton-on-Sea, Academy, 1,466 pupils, inspected June 2024
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
30.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
15%
Rank 72
Bmat Stem Academy
Harlow, Free school, 240 pupils, inspected January 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
28.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
15.3%
Rank 73
King Harold Business & Enterprise Academy
Waltham Abbey, Academy, 812 pupils, inspected April 2026
Report card: Needs attention to expected standard
Attainment 8
36.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
31.8%
Rank 74
Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow
Harlow, Academy, 978 pupils, inspected May 2024
Ofsted: Requires improvement
Attainment 8
38.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
31%
Rank 75
Tabor Academy
Braintree, Academy, 989 pupils, inspected September 2023
Ofsted: Requires improvement
Attainment 8
38.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
31.5%
Rank 76
Harwich and Dovercourt High School
Harwich, Academy, 1,075 pupils, inspected January 2026
Report card: Urgent improvement to needs attention
Attainment 8
37.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
27.9%
Rank 77
Hylands School
Chelmsford, Academy, 614 pupils, inspected February 2026
Report card: Urgent improvement to needs attention
Attainment 8
37.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
37.8%
Rank 78
Castle View School
Canvey Island, Academy, 1,098 pupils, inspected December 2023
Ofsted: Requires improvement
Attainment 8
36.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
16.4%

Secondary schools in Essex without a rank

Brentwood School
Brentwood, Independent, 1,853 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
30.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
78.4%
Chelmsford Hospital School
Chelmsford, Independent, 1 pupils, inspected March 2024
Ofsted: Outstanding
Chigwell School
Chigwell, Independent, 1,135 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
21.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
Colchester Prep & High School
Colchester, Independent, 280 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
61.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
65.1%
Coopersale Hall School
Epping, Independent, Selective, 302 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Felsted School
Felsted, Independent, 932 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
35.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
Gosfield School
Halstead, Independent, 369 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
50.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
54.2%
Holmwood House School
Colchester, Independent, 395 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
New Hall School
Chelmsford, Independent, 1,364 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
70.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
88.1%
Open Box Education Centre
Epping, Independent, 16 pupils, inspected October 2024
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
15.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
33.3%
Saint Nicholas School
Harlow, Independent, 439 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
46.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
St John's School
Billericay, Independent, Selective, 274 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
45.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
42.3%
St Mary's School for Girls
Colchester, Independent, 424 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
66.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
82.4%
The Basildon Lower Academy
Basildon, Academy, 892 pupils, inspected January 2026
Report card: Urgent improvement to expected standard
The Cornelius Vermuyden School
Canvey Island, Academy, inspected October 2023
Ofsted: Inadequate
The Trinity School
Colchester, Free school, 780 pupils, inspected May 2025
Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding