The Appleton School
Croft Road, Benfleet, SS7 5RNOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Appleton School is a secondary school in Benfleet for ages 11 to 19. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. It ranks 57th of 78 secondary schools in Essex. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2019.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 12 February 2019, report published 5 March 2019
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 19 November 2024
There is a welcoming culture in this school. Staff develop positive relationships with pupils. They know the pupils very well. This ensures pupils are happy and feel safe here. The school has high expectations for pupils. There is an ambitious curriculum for all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school has recently implemented several strategies that support pupils to meet the aims of the curriculum. This ensures pupils achieve well and are ready for the next stage of their education. Pupils behave well during lessons. The recently updated behaviour system is effective and applied consistently by staff. As a result, pupils are routinely focused and engaged. Pupils have various opportunities to contribute to the school community. The student leadership team plays a prominent role. Students in the sixth form enjoy the opportunity to help and support younger pupils. Pupils take part in a variety of wider opportunities that develop their talents and interests. There is a range of clubs, including sports, music, and origami. Students in the sixth form take part in enrichment activities that help to prepare them well for adult life. These include cooking, first aid and academic writing.
What the school should improve
- At times, teachers do not systematically identify and clarify pupils' misunderstandings or ensure that pupils are secure in subject-specific vocabulary. This means that, sometimes, pupils do not retain important key knowledge and understanding. The school should develop the expertise of all teachers so that they address any gaps in pupils' understanding promptly and ensure that learning and vocabulary are firmly embedded before moving on to new content.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
286 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
65 students
Average A level grade B-, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
1,597 pupils on roll, with places for 1,500
Schools near The Appleton School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| The King John School | 2 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | Attainment 8: 49.6 |
| The Deanes | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 34.4 |
| The Basildon Upper Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 28.7 |
| The Cornelius Vermuyden School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Inadequate | Not published |
| The Basildon Lower Academy | 3 miles | Report card: Urgent improvement to expected standard | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- HARRIS FEDERATION
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Sarah Cox
- Phone
- 01268794215
- Address
- Croft Road, Benfleet, SS7 5RN
- Local authority
- Essex
- URN
- 136579
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.