Best secondary schools in Chelmsford
School-first buying in Chelmsford still needs postcode checking because the school story is stronger than the city-wide average implies. This ranking covers 23 secondary schools across 14 local authority districts. Postcode area SS0 has the highest average school score (73.7 across 6 schools), while RM15 sits at the lower end (43.2). 78% of ranked Chelmsford secondary schools hold an Ofsted Outstanding or Good rating.
Top 10 secondary schools in Chelmsford on the LocaleIQ model
Ordered by composite score within the Chelmsford comparison pool. Rankings reflect published data, not editorial opinion.
More secondary schools in Chelmsford
Positions 11–23 in the Chelmsford ranking.
| # | School | LocaleIQ | Ofsted | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Grays Convent High School | 69.4 | Good | Secondary |
| 12 | Orsett Heath Academy | 59.4 | Good | Secondary |
| 13 | The Gateway Academy | 50 | Good | Secondary |
| 14 | Thames Park Secondary School | 48.9 | Good | Secondary |
| 15 | St Clere's School | 45.9 | Good | Secondary |
| 16 | Cecil Jones Academy | 30.2 | Good | Secondary |
| 17 | Shoeburyness High School | 26.5 | Good | Secondary |
| 18 | The Hathaway Academy | 25.7 | Good | Secondary |
| 19 | Belfairs Academy | 19.4 | Requires improvement | Secondary |
| 20 | William Edwards School | 11.1 | Requires improvement | Secondary |
| 21 | Ormiston Park Academy | 4 | Requires improvement | Secondary |
| 22 | Southchurch High School | 1.1 | Requires improvement | Secondary |
| 23 | Chase High School | 0.9 | Inadequate | Secondary |
Keep exploring Chelmsford
Questions about secondary schools in Chelmsford
What is the best secondary school in Chelmsford?
Westcliff High School for Boys Academy is the top-ranked secondary school in Chelmsford (LocaleIQ score 99.1 out of 100). Ofsted: Outstanding. Attainment 8 77.6. The score combines Ofsted outcome, Progress 8 and Attainment 8, and cohort-weighted percentile ranks within the Chelmsford secondary pool.
What is the best primary school in Chelmsford?
Kenningtons Primary Academy tops the Chelmsford primary school ranking (LocaleIQ 98.8). Ofsted: Outstanding. KS2 expected 88% · higher 19%. See the full primary school ranking for Chelmsford for the complete list.
Which secondary schools in Chelmsford have the best GCSE results?
Attainment 8 measures average GCSE grades across eight subjects; Progress 8 compares actual grades against predictions based on KS2 — a positive figure means pupils outperformed expectations. Top performers in Chelmsford: Westcliff High School for Boys Academy (Attainment 8 77.6); Westcliff High School for Girls (Attainment 8 75.6); Southend High School for Girls (Attainment 8 75.0). Both metrics feed into the LocaleIQ secondary school score.
Which secondary schools in Chelmsford are rated Outstanding by Ofsted?
7 secondary schools in the Chelmsford ranking hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating: Westcliff High School for Boys Academy, Westcliff High School for Girls, Southend High School for Girls, Southend High School for Boys, Harris Academy Chafford Hundred, and 2 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.
How many secondary schools are ranked in Chelmsford?
This ranking covers 23 secondary schools in the Chelmsford comparison pool, across 14 local authority districts. Schools without sufficient published data are excluded but may appear in the LocaleIQ directory.
Which area of Chelmsford has the best secondary schools?
By average LocaleIQ score across postcode areas, SS0 has the strongest cluster — 73.7 average across 6 ranked secondary schools. RM15 sits at the lower end (43.2 average). School-first buying in Chelmsford still needs postcode checking because the school story is stronger than the city-wide average implies. Postcode averages mask individual variation — always review each school's full profile.
Ranking data last computed 29 March 2026.