Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Girls only · Roman Catholic · Sixth form

Part of BRENTWOOD URSULINE CONVENT HIGH SCHOOL

Queen's Road, Brentwood, CM14 4EX

01277 227156 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 7 March 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths78%England 45% · 2024/25
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Brentwood.
Higher than 94% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils991Room for 1,047 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,070 in 2019, 1,055 in 2021, 1,036 in 2022, 1,007 in 2023, 1,024 in 2024, 1,013 in 2025, 991 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.8134 for 175 places, September 2026
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Brentwood.
Higher than 22% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 March 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

167 pupils in this year group.

78% — 35 points above the Essex average, and 32 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 78% 43% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 61 45.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 5.5 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 83%This school 2023/24: 81%This school 2024/25: 78% This school England 45% 2022/23 83% 2023/24 81% 2024/25 78%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

169 pupils in this year group.

100% — 8 points above the Essex average, and 8 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 80%15%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 100% 92% 92%
School sixth form 80% 37% 34%
Sixth form college 2% 9% 13%
Further education college 15% 38% 37%
Apprenticeship 1% 3% 3%
Work 1% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
98%100%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

91 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Average A level grade B- C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 23% 26% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 55% 54% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 35 34.7 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 36.9This school 2023/24: 35.1This school 2024/25: 35 This school England 35 2022/23 36.9 2023/24 35.1 2024/25 35

A level subjects, 2024/25

17 subjects, 222 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Psychology 36 3% 17% 19%
Biology 27 4% 19% 27%
Mathematics 26 0% 46% 40%
Chemistry 22 0% 5% 30%
English Literature 20 15% 25% 23%
History 16 6% 44% 23%
Economics 14 7% 29% 26%
English Language and Literature 12 0% 0% 16%
Religious Studies 10 10% 50% 22%
Art and Design 9 22% 44% 34%
Geography 7 14% 14% 23%
Government and Politics 6 0% 0% 26%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Textiles), Physical Education / Sports Studies, Physics, French, Mathematics (Further).

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

77 students in this year group.

91% — 10 points above the Essex average, and 12 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 91% 81% 79%
Apprenticeship 5% 8% 7%
Work 12% 33% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%91%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

94 students in this year group.

80% — 26 points above the Essex average, and 20 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 80% 54% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 30% 15% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
84%80%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Essex. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered175
Families who put it first134
Of those, offered a place116 (87%)
Families who listed it at all515

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.8

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Essex

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolEssexEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Brentwood.
Higher than 10% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
12.0% 22.6%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Brentwood.
Higher than 5% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
0.7% 2.7%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Brentwood.
Higher than 6% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.6% 12.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Brentwood.
Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
10.1% 9.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
2nd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Brentwood.
Lower than 92% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
5.2% 8.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
2nd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Brentwood.
Lower than 90% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
13.2% 23.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
1st lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Brentwood.
Lower than 84% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.5 18.4 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
1st lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Brentwood.
Lower than 81% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
3.3% 7.5% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.18% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Brentwood.
Higher than 50% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.8 17.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Brentwood.
Higher than 89% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
14.0 12.9 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Brentwood.
Higher than 75% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
18.4% 13.3%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School's Ofsted rating?

Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 March 2023.

How did Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 78% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 32 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 134 families put Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School as their first choice for 175 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 116 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.