Harris Academy Kingswood

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of HARRIS FEDERATION

Woodlands Approach, Woodlands School, Basildon, SS16 5BA

01268 282146 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 7 March 2018; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths33%England 45% · 2024/25
2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Basildon.
Higher than 23% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,513Room for 1,500 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,533 in 2019, 1,556 in 2021, 1,523 in 2022, 1,497 in 2023, 1,494 in 2024, 1,492 in 2025, 1,513 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.4399 for 287 places, September 2026
2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Basildon.
Higher than 90% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 March 2018.

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
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Leadership and managementOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

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

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

99 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Basildon comparisons use the 3 of its 5 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 2 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolBasildonEngland
My child is happy at this school
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Basildon.
Higher than 38% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
79% 69% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Basildon.
Higher than 33% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
80% 69% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Basildon.
Higher than 47% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
77% 65% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 49 parents whose child had been bullied
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Basildon.
Higher than 42% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
47% 34% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 72 parents who had raised a concern
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Basildon.
Higher than 40% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
67% 56% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Basildon.
Higher than 46% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
78%said yes 65% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Basildon figures pool parents at the Basildon schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

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

292 pupils in this year group.

33% — 10 points below the Essex average, and 13 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 33% 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. 42.1 45.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.9 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 38%This school 2023/24: 42%This school 2024/25: 33% This school England 45% 2022/23 38% 2023/24 42% 2024/25 33%

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.

296 pupils in this year group.

84% — 8 points below the Essex average, and 8 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 84% 92% 92%
School sixth form 14% 37% 34%
Sixth form college 1% 9% 13%
Further education college 58% 38% 37%
Apprenticeship 6% 3% 3%
Work 5% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%84%

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 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 about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered287
Families who put it first399
Of those, offered a place249 (62%)
Families who listed it at all1,095

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.4 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.4

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.

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 Basildon.
Higher than 64% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
33.0% 22.6%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Basildon.
Higher than 68% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.8% 2.7%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Basildon.
Higher than 21% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
9.9% 12.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Basildon.
Higher than 57% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
15.1% 9.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
2nd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Basildon.
Lower than 57% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.9% 8.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
2nd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Basildon.
Lower than 55% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
22.6% 23.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Basildon.
Lower than 34% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
22.1 18.4 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Basildon.
Lower than 31% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
9.5% 7.5% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.07% 0.18% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Basildon.
Higher than 63% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.4 17.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Basildon.
Higher than 68% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.6 12.9 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Basildon.
Higher than 74% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
18.2% 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 Harris Academy Kingswood's Ofsted rating?

Harris Academy Kingswood was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 March 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 11 October 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Harris Academy Kingswood do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 33% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 13 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Harris Academy Kingswood?

78% of the 99 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Harris Academy Kingswood to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Harris Academy Kingswood oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 399 families put Harris Academy Kingswood as their first choice for 287 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 249 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.