St Bernard's High School
Milton Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 7JSOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Bernard's High School is a secondary school in Westcliff-on-Sea for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 59 schools in Southend-on-Sea. It ranks 6th of 12 secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in May 2012.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 31 May 2012, report published 22 June 2012
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 21 March 2023
St Bernard's High School is a welcoming, inclusive school. Leaders have high expectations of pupils in terms of learning and behaviour. Pupils live up to these expectations. They are keen to do well. They work hard in lessons and their behaviour in class is focused and engaged. During break and lunchtime the school is calm, as most pupils act respectfully towards one another. Pupils are polite and courteous. They are keen to talk to visitors about their school. Relationships between staff and pupils are positive. Most pupils enjoy school and feel safe. Instances of bullying are rare. If bullying should occur, pupils have confidence that staff will deal with it effectively. Pupils benefit from a wide range of enrichment and extra-curricular activities, such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Uptake of these activities is high. Sixth-form students benefit from a range of leadership opportunities. These include the student leadership team, which organises and runs a selection of whole-school events. The curriculum is supplemented with educational trips and visits to places such art galleries, field trips and museums.
What the school should improve
- A small number of teachers do not make the required adaptations to their teaching or check that pupils with SEND are keeping up with their peers. In these instances, pupils with SEND find learning tricky and some fail to complete their work. Leaders should ensure that all staff make adjustments to their teaching, so that pupils with SEND can receive the support they need to learn successfully.
- Leaders have not ensured that pupils who have fallen behind in their reading are receiving the support they need to catch up quickly. As a result, these pupils are not making the progress they should towards becoming fluent readers. Leaders need to ensure that support for pupils who are at the earlier stages of reading is precisely targeted and monitored to enable them to catch up quickly.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
167 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
61 students
Average A level grade C, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
1,001 pupils on roll, with places for 1,030
Schools near St Bernard's High School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase High School | 1 mile | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Attainment 8: 39.2 |
| Southend High School for Boys | 1 mile | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 73.8 |
| Westcliff High School for Boys Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 77.6 |
| Westcliff High School for Girls | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 75.6 |
| St Thomas More High School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 52.3 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ST BERNARD'S HIGH SCHOOL
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Girls
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Helen Barnes
- Phone
- 01702343583
- Address
- Milton Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 7JS
- Local authority
- Southend-on-Sea
- URN
- 137312
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.