Grays Convent High School

Voluntary aided school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Girls only · Roman Catholic

College Avenue, Grays, RM17 5UX

01375 376173 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 11 June 2013; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths61%England 45% · 2024/25
2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays.
Higher than 84% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils655Room for 620 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 624 in 2019, 656 in 2021, 637 in 2022, 642 in 2023, 682 in 2024, 654 in 2025, 655 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.682 for 137 places, September 2026
5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays.
Higher than 9% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 11 June 2013.

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 educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 11 May 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

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

137 pupils in this year group.

61% — 16 points above the Thurrock average, and 16 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolThurrockEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 61% 45% 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. 55.7 45.2 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 5.2 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 56%This school 2023/24: 56%This school 2024/25: 61% This school England 45% 2022/23 56% 2023/24 56% 2024/25 61%

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.

124 pupils in this year group.

98% — 7 points above the Thurrock average, and 6 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 53%39%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolThurrockEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 98% 91% 92%
School sixth form 53% 30% 34%
Sixth form college 2% – 13%
Further education college 39% 52% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 4% 3%
Work 2% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
98%98%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 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 Thurrock. 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 offered137
Families who put it first82
Of those, offered a place82 (100%)
Families who listed it at all241

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.6

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 Thurrock

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolThurrockEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays.
Higher than 34% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
21.3% 27.2%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
7th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays.
Higher than 13% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.4% 3.8%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays.
Higher than 12% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
8.0% 11.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays.
Higher than 70% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
22.5% 20.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
2nd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays.
Lower than 90% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
5.5% 7.1%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
2nd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays.
Lower than 90% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
13.5% 20.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
2nd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays.
Lower than 63% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.2 18.0 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays.
Lower than 56% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
6.0% 7.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.08% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays.
Higher than 27% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
15.7 15.9 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays.
Higher than 58% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.2 11.9 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
7th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays.
Higher than 23% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
9.1% 18.0%* 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 Grays Convent High School's Ofsted rating?

Grays Convent High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 11 June 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 11 May 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Grays Convent High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 61% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 16 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Grays Convent High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 82 families put Grays Convent High School as their first choice for 137 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 82 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.