Roding Valley High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of THE CHELMSFORD LEARNING PARTNERSHIP

Alderton Hill, Loughton, IG10 3JA

020 8508 1173 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 27 September 2022
Grade 5 or above in English and maths48%England 45% · 2024/25
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Loughton.
Higher than 61% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,473Room for 1,455 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,307 in 2019, 1,374 in 2021, 1,420 in 2022, 1,439 in 2023, 1,471 in 2024, 1,437 in 2025, 1,473 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.9222 for 244 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Loughton.
Higher than 40% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 27 September 2022.

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
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formOutstanding
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

239 pupils in this year group.

48% — 5 points above the Essex average, and 3 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 48% 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. 47.1 45.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.3 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 43%This school 2023/24: 39%This school 2024/25: 48% This school England 45% 2022/23 43% 2023/24 39% 2024/25 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.

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.

244 pupils in this year group.

93% — about the same as the Essex average, and about the same as 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. 93% 92% 92%
School sixth form 51% 37% 34%
Sixth form college Not published 9% 13%
Further education college 36% 38% 37%
Apprenticeship 5% 3% 3%
Work 1% 3% 3%

"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%93%

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

98 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Average A level grade B- C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 32% 26% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 63% 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. 38.0 34.7 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 45 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 33.1This school 2023/24: 37.1This school 2024/25: 38.0 This school England 35 2022/23 33.1 2023/24 37.1 2024/25 38.0

A level subjects, 2024/25

19 subjects, 256 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Mathematics 31 19% 48% 40%
Biology 26 12% 35% 27%
Psychology 25 12% 32% 19%
Chemistry 22 14% 27% 30%
English Literature 18 22% 39% 23%
Geography 17 18% 41% 23%
History 17 0% 29% 23%
Economics 16 0% 31% 26%
Government and Politics 16 13% 38% 26%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 16 13% 25% 14%
Physics 10 0% 10% 31%
Sociology 9 11% 22% 20%
Business Studies:Single 8 0% 0% 16%
Mathematics (Further) 6 33% 50% 59%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Religious Studies, Art and Design, Spanish, Art and Design (Photography), Computer Studies / Computing.

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.

127 students in this year group.

87% — 6 points above the Essex average, and 8 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. 87% 81% 79%
Apprenticeship 7% 8% 7%
Work 20% 33% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
84%87%

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.

112 students in this year group.

54% — about the same as the Essex average, and 6 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 54% 54% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 21% 15% 19%

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

2023/242024/25
68%54%

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 about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered244
Families who put it first222
Of those, offered a place207 (93%)
Families who listed it at all637

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9

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
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Loughton.
Higher than 38% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
22.6% 22.6%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Loughton.
Higher than 22% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.8% 2.7%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Loughton.
Higher than 46% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
13.2% 12.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Loughton.
Higher than 56% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
14.5% 9.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Loughton.
Lower than 43% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.8% 8.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Loughton.
Lower than 38% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
25.8% 23.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Loughton.
Lower than 39% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
19.3 18.4 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Loughton.
Lower than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.0% 7.5% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils 0.28% 0.18% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Loughton.
Higher than 45% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.6 17.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Loughton.
Higher than 74% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.9 12.9 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Loughton.
Higher than 43% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
12.1% 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 Roding Valley High School's Ofsted rating?

Roding Valley High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 27 September 2022.

How did Roding Valley High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 48% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 3 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Roding Valley High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 222 families put Roding Valley High School as their first choice for 244 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 207 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.