St Nicholas School
Philpott Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 4RLOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Nicholas School is a special school in Southend-on-Sea for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 59 schools in Southend-on-Sea. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in January 2026.
Ofsted report card
Inspected 20 January 2026, report published 28 May 2026
Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.
- Inclusion
- Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching
- Expected standard
- Achievement
- Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour
- Strong standard
- Personal development and wellbeing
- Expected standard
- Leadership and governance
- Expected standard
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 20 January 2026
Pupils benefit from being well known and understood by the staff who work with them. Expert staff get to know pupils quickly and this creates a warm and purposeful environment which is felt through the school. Pupils feel valued. They clearly trust the staff here. Pupils know that staff want the best for them, will help to keep them safe and help them to learn. Pupils love to learn at this vibrant and inclusive school. They are positive about the curriculum and how much they enjoy it. Pupils understand that everyone has a right to learn. They behave well and actively support each other. Pupils have a range of needs. The school makes rapid adjustments and adaptations to help pupils take part in school events. Across school trips, residentials, on-site clubs and off-site competitions, all pupils are given the support to be fully included in all that the school offers. Pupils are given the opportunities to learn vital leadership skills. Through roles such as school councillors, friendship ambassadors or planning campaigns and events, pupils learn what it means to positively contribute to society. Pupils treat each other with compassion and kindness. They recognise that everyone is different. They respect and celebrate these differences. Consequently, unkind behaviour, including bullying, is very rare. When pupils do have concerns or problems, they are reassured that the staff will deal with them promptly and effectively. The school is a calm and happy place, where pupils can focus on learning and feel secure. This is reflected in how well pupils attend school and the highly positive way that they engage with their learning and development.
What the school should improve
- Leaders should ensure the activities that pupils are given allow them to deepen and extend their learning across the entire curriculum.
- Leaders should ensure that strategies linked to pupils’ special educational needs and/or disabilities are precisely matched to pupils annual targets and consistently adapted in order to remove barriers to learning more swiftly.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
20 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
108 pupils on roll, with places for 108
Schools near St Nicholas School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sutton House Academy | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 6.1 |
| Compass Community School Boleyn Park | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Lancaster School | 2 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | Not published |
| Estuary High School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Inadequate | Not published |
| Kingsdown School | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy special converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- SEN TRUST SOUTHEND
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Laura Fox
- Phone
- 01702462322
- Address
- Philpott Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 4RL
- Local authority
- Southend-on-Sea
- URN
- 144691
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.