Southchurch High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of PARTNERSHIP LEARNING

Southchurch Boulevard, Southend-On-Sea, SS2 4XA

01702 900777 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card5 expected, 1 needs attentionSafeguarding met · 24 March 2026
Grade 5 or above in English and maths24%England 45% · 2024/25
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 7% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils722Room for 840 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 577 in 2019, 748 in 2021, 821 in 2022, 794 in 2023, 794 in 2024, 805 in 2025, 722 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.884 for 112 places, September 2026
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 20% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 24 March 2026 , published 21 May 2026.

In short: 5 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

131 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Southend-on-Sea comparisons use the 3 of its 12 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 9 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 schoolSouthend-on-SeaEngland
My child is happy at this school
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 36% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
73% 75% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 51% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 80% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 58% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
79% 71% 78%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 27 parents whose child had been bullied
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 78% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
59% 48% 43%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 125 parents who had raised a concern
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 54% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
72% 70% 74%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 42 parents of children with SEND
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 72% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
71% 68% 63%
I would recommend this school to another parent
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 41% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
78%said yes 76% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 16%). 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. Southend-on-Sea figures pool parents at the Southend-on-Sea 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

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

148 pupils in this year group.

24% — 34 points below the Southend-on-Sea average, and 22 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSouthend-on-SeaEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 24% 57% 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. 38.7 52.2 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.2 4.6 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 23%This school 2023/24: 13%This school 2024/25: 24% This school England 45% 2022/23 23% 2023/24 13% 2024/25 24%

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.

152 pupils in this year group.

86% — 8 points below the Southend-on-Sea average, and 6 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 24%58%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolSouthend-on-SeaEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 86% 94% 92%
School sixth form 24% 58% 34%
Sixth form college 0% – 13%
Further education college 58% 30% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 2% 3%
Work 2% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
93%86%

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 Southend-on-Sea. 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 offered112
Families who put it first84
Of those, offered a place84 (100%)
Families who listed it at all229

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

Admissions dates and schools in Southend-on-Sea

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolSouthend-on-SeaEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
45.0% 22.8%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 63% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.5% 2.4%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 85% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
19.5% 10.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 62% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
17.0% 12.9%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea.
Lower than 15% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
11.0% 7.1%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
Joint 4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea.
Lower than 12% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
33.2% 19.5%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea.
Lower than 13% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
46.1 14.3 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
5th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea.
Lower than 6% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
17.6% 5.4% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded8 pupils 0.99% 0.19% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 45% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.6 17.5 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 24% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.6 12.8 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea.
Higher than 93% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
26.9% 14.7%* 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 Southchurch High School's Ofsted rating?

Southchurch High School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 24 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 5 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.

How did Southchurch High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 24% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 22 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Southchurch High School?

78% of the 131 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Southchurch High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Southchurch High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 84 families put Southchurch High School as their first choice for 112 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 84 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.