SchoolScoresOrsett Heath Academy
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of SOUTH WEST ESSEX COMMUNITY EDUCATION TRUST LIMITED
Stanford Road, Grays, RM16 4DG
01375 802800 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 17 October 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
85 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Grays comparisons use the 4 of its 7 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 3 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.
| Statement | This school | Grays | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Grays. Higher than 63% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 89% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Grays. Higher than 49% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Grays. Higher than 36% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72% | 86% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 33 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Grays. Higher than 92% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 65% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 56 parents who had raised a concern 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Grays. Higher than 35% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64% | 79% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Grays. Higher than 39% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75%said yes | 86% | 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. Grays figures pool parents at the Grays 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.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
113 pupils in this year group.
48% — 3 points above the Thurrock average, and 2 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Thurrock | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 48% | 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. | 47 | 45.2 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
| 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|
| Not published | Not published | 48% |
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.
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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 235 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 256 |
| Of those, offered a place | 199 (78%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 866 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.1
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Thurrock | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Higher than 39% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 23.1% | 27.2%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.8% | 3.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Higher than 64% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 15.8% | 11.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Higher than 23% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 5.1% | 20.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Lower than 71% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.1% | 7.1%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Lower than 66% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 20.2% | 20.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Lower than 39% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 19.7 | 18.0 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Lower than 40% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.0% | 7.8% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Higher than 74% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 18.0 | 15.9 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Higher than 92% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.4 | 11.9 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Higher than 61% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 15.4% | 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
- The Hathaway Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 37% grade 5+ English and maths
- William Edwards School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 3 needs attention · 35% grade 5+ English and maths
- Grays Convent High School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 61% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Gateway Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 48% grade 5+ English and maths
- Thames Park Secondary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 54% grade 5+ English and maths
- Harris Academy Chafford Hundred 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 68% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Orsett Heath Academy's Ofsted rating?
Orsett Heath Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 17 October 2023.
How did Orsett Heath Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 48% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 2 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Orsett Heath Academy?
75% of the 85 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Orsett Heath Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Orsett Heath Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 256 families put Orsett Heath Academy as their first choice for 235 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 199 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 147847.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.