The Sandon School

  • Secondary
  • Academy
  • Ages 11 to 18
Ofsted: Requires improvement

Molrams Lane, Sandon, Chelmsford, CM2 7AQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

The Sandon School is a secondary school in Chelmsford for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. It ranks 10th of 11 secondary schools in Chelmsford. Its latest Ofsted rating is Requires improvement, from an inspection in March 2024.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 19 March 2024, report published 12 June 2024

Overall effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Requires improvement
Sixth form provision
Requires improvement
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 March 2024

Pupils are enthusiastic about their role in improving the world we live in. Head students are exemplary role models. They take responsibility for improving the culture across the school. They are proud of being in a leadership position and know they have a real voice in how the school is led. Pupils are comfortable being themselves. They embrace the uniqueness of others. Pupils benefit from a range of opportunities to understand, and contribute to, wider society. For instance, the school arranges for external speakers to come in. Pupils are keen to participate in school life beyond the academic curriculum. They like to earn house points and get awarded shields for different activities, such as charity work. This is a calm and safe school, where pupils typically behave well. However, the school does not adapt what is taught well enough to meet the needs of different pupils. Consequently, too often, these pupils are not given the support they need to succeed.

What the school should improve

  • Pupils with SEND do not learn as well as they should. This is because teachers do not adapt the way they teach to ensure these pupils can access the same curriculum as their peers. The school should ensure that teachers know how to meet the needs of the different pupils in their classes.
  • Misconceptions and misunderstandings are overlooked or remain unnoticed for too long by staff. This is because teachers do not check well enough whether pupils understand what they have been taught. The school should ensure teachers have routines in place to help them check that all pupils are learning.
  • The school does not have a clear understanding of the impact of their work. This is because they do not review the information they have well. The school should make sure that the systems and processes in place provide helpful and timely analysis of the impact of the school's work to leaders and governors.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

208 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score46.6

46.6, 0.5 above the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths42.3%

42.3%, 3.1 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths70.2%

70.2%, 5.4 percentage points above the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc24.5%

24.5%, 16 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.92

3.92, 0.17 below the England average of 4.09.

A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25

92 students

Average point score per A level entry30.54

30.54, 4.46 below the England average of 35.00.

Average A level grade C, England average B-

Pupil numbers and mix

1,218 pupils on roll, with places for 1,253

Eligible for free school meals14.4%

14.4%, 12.1 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language5.7%

5.7%, 15.9 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support7.6%

7.6%, 7.2 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan2.7%

2.7%, 3.3 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near The Sandon School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Great Baddow High School1 mileReport card: Expected standard to strong standardAttainment 8: 50.0
Moulsham High School2 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 58.3
Chelmsford Hospital School2 milesOfsted: OutstandingNot published
The Boswells School3 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 48.4
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford3 milesReport card: Strong standard to exceptionalAttainment 8: 83.3

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
THE SANDON SCHOOL ACADEMY TRUST
Age range
11 to 18
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
Yes
Headteacher
Headteacher Jonathan Pead
Address
Molrams Lane, Sandon, Chelmsford, CM2 7AQ
Local authority
Essex
URN
137240

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.