SchoolScoresWilliam Edwards School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of SOUTH WEST ESSEX COMMUNITY EDUCATION TRUST LIMITED
Stifford Clays Road, Stifford Clays, Grays, RM16 3NJ
01375 486000 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 10 March 2026 , published 9 June 2026.
In short: 3 expected, 3 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.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| 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. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| 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. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
116 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Higher than 38% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 74% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school Higher than 39% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Higher than 32% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 23 parents whose child had been bullied Higher than 29% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 35% | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 91 parents who had raised a concern Higher than 39% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 25 parents of children with SEND Higher than 51% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 60% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Higher than 33% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72%said yes | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 10%). 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. 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.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
233 pupils in this year group.
35% — 11 points below the Thurrock average, and 11 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Thurrock | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 35% | 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. | 42.5 | 45.2 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.6 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
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.
264 pupils in this year group.
92% — about the same as the Thurrock average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Thurrock | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 92% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 22% | 30% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 1% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 58% | 52% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 8% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 96% | 92% |
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 offered | 159 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 90 |
| Of those, offered a place | 90 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 429 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.5 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Thurrock | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Higher than 35% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 21.7% | 27.2%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Higher than 42% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.6% | 3.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Higher than 49% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.7% | 11.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Higher than 38% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 8.5% | 20.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Lower than 57% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.0% | 7.1%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 7th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Lower than 44% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 24.6% | 20.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Lower than 54% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.1 | 18.0 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Lower than 51% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.6% | 7.8% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Higher than 12% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 14.6 | 15.9 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Higher than 49% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.8 | 11.9 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Grays. Higher than 62% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 15.6% | 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
- Orsett Heath Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 48% grade 5+ English and maths
- Grays Convent High School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 61% grade 5+ English and maths
- Thames Park Secondary School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 54% grade 5+ English and maths
- Harris Academy Chafford Hundred 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 68% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Gateway Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 48% grade 5+ English and maths
- Harris Academy Ockendon 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 49% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is William Edwards School's Ofsted rating?
William Edwards School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 10 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 expected, 3 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did William Edwards School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 35% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 11 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend William Edwards School?
72% of the 116 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend William Edwards School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is William Edwards School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 90 families put William Edwards School as their first choice for 159 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 90 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 137214.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.