Best schools in Essex
School-led moves in Essex still need postcode comparison because the county is too broad for one catchment narrative. This ranking covers 95 schools across 14 local authority districts. Postcode area RM16 has the highest average school score (72.5 across 15 schools), while SS2 sits at the lower end (40.8). 92% of ranked Essex schools hold an Ofsted Outstanding or Good rating.
Top 10 schools in Essex on the LocaleIQ model
Ordered by composite score within the Essex comparison pool. Rankings reflect published data, not editorial opinion.
More schools in Essex
Positions 11–30 in the Essex ranking.
| # | School | LocaleIQ | Ofsted | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Harris Primary Academy Chafford Hundred | 96.2 | Outstanding | Primary |
| 12 | Orsett Church of England Primary School | 92.2 | Good | Primary |
| 13 | Blenheim Primary School | 91.9 | Outstanding | Primary |
| 14 | Harris Academy Chafford Hundred | 91 | Outstanding | Secondary |
| 15 | Arthur Bugler Primary School | 89.8 | Good | Primary |
| 16 | Richmond Avenue Primary and Nursery School | 89.7 | Good | Primary |
| 17 | The Eastwood Academy | 89.5 | Outstanding | Secondary |
| 18 | The Gateway Primary Free School | 89.3 | Good | Primary |
| 19 | St George's Catholic Primary School | 87.9 | Good | Primary |
| 20 | Chadwell St Mary Primary School | 85.2 | Good | Primary |
| 21 | Edwards Hall Primary School | 84.2 | Good | Primary |
| 22 | Shaw Primary Academy | 83.4 | Good | Primary |
| 23 | Warren Primary School | 83.3 | Good | Primary |
| 24 | Harris Academy Ockendon | 82.3 | Outstanding | Secondary |
| 25 | Bournes Green Junior School | 81 | Good | Primary |
| 26 | Abbots Hall Primary School | 80.9 | Good | Primary |
| 27 | St Mary's Catholic Primary School | 80.4 | Good | Primary |
| 28 | Hinguar Community Primary School | 80 | Good | Primary |
| 29 | Tudor Court Primary School | 79.7 | Good | Primary |
| 30 | West Thurrock Academy | 79.2 | Good | Primary |
Keep exploring Essex
Questions about schools in Essex
What is the best school in Essex?
Westcliff High School for Boys Academy is the top-ranked school in Essex overall (LocaleIQ score 99.1 out of 100). Ofsted: Outstanding. Attainment 8 77.6. Primary and secondary schools are scored on separate metrics and peer pools — use the phase tabs above to compare like for like.
What is the best primary school in Essex?
Kenningtons Primary Academy leads the Essex primary school ranking (LocaleIQ 98.8). Ofsted: Outstanding. KS2 expected 88% · higher 19%. The Primary tab above shows the full ranked list of Essex primary schools.
What is the best secondary school in Essex?
Westcliff High School for Boys Academy leads the Essex secondary school ranking (LocaleIQ 99.1). Ofsted: Outstanding. Attainment 8 77.6. The Secondary tab above shows the full ranked list of Essex secondary schools.
Which schools in Essex are rated Outstanding by Ofsted?
15 schools in the Essex ranking hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating: Westcliff High School for Boys Academy, Westcliff High School for Girls, Kenningtons Primary Academy, Southend High School for Girls, Southend High School for Boys, and 10 more. Outstanding means Ofsted judged the school exceptional in all inspection areas. LocaleIQ weighs DfE performance data alongside Ofsted, so a Good-rated school can still rank highly.
Which area of Essex has the best schools?
By average LocaleIQ score across postcode areas, RM16 has the strongest cluster — 72.5 average across 15 ranked schools. SS2 sits at the lower end (40.8 average). School-led moves in Essex still need postcode comparison because the county is too broad for one catchment narrative. Postcode averages mask individual variation — always review each school's full profile.
How many schools are ranked in Essex?
This ranking covers 95 schools (primary and secondary) in the Essex comparison pool, across 14 local authority districts. Use the Primary or Secondary tabs for phase-specific rankings. Schools without sufficient published data are excluded but may appear in the LocaleIQ directory.
Ranking data last computed 29 March 2026.