William de Ferrers School

Secondary
Academy
Ages 11 to 18

Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good

Trinity Square, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, CM3 5JUOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

William de Ferrers School is a secondary school in Chelmsford for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. It ranks 9th of 11 secondary schools in Chelmsford. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in September 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 24 September 2024, report published 20 October 2024

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

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

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

216 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score44.1

44.1, 2 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths38.9%

38.9%, 6.5 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths69%

69%, 4.2 percentage points above the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc9.7%

9.7%, 30.8 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.57

3.57, 0.52 below the England average of 4.09.

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

53 students

Average point score per A level entry30.13

30.13, 4.87 below the England average of 35.00.

Average A level grade C, England average B-

Pupil numbers and mix

1,237 pupils on roll, with places for 2,076

Eligible for free school meals13%

13%, 13.5 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language2.1%

2.1%, 19.5 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support13.3%

13.3%, 1.5 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan1.3%

1.3%, 4.7 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near William de Ferrers School

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Lift Greensward	3 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 49.4
The Sweyne Park School	4 miles	Ofsted judgements: Good	Attainment 8: 44.0
The FitzWimarc School	4 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 45.2
Beauchamps High School	4 miles	Ofsted judgements: Good	Attainment 8: 48.1
The King Edmund School	5 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 36.3

School details

School type: Academy converter
Sector: Academy
Trust: THE CHELMSFORD LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
Age range: 11 to 18
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: Yes
Headteacher: Mrs Jo McManus
Phone: 01245326326
Website: wdf.school (opens in a new tab)
Address: Trinity Square, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, CM3 5JU
Local authority: Essex
URN: 136605

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.