Best secondary 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 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 Essex secondary schools hold an Ofsted Outstanding or Good rating.
Top 10 secondary schools in Essex on the LocaleIQ model
Ordered by composite score within the Essex comparison pool. Rankings reflect published data, not editorial opinion.
More secondary schools in Essex
Positions 11–23 in the Essex 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 Essex
Questions about secondary schools in Essex
What is the best secondary school in Essex?
Westcliff High School for Boys Academy is the top-ranked secondary school in Essex (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 Essex secondary pool.
What is the best primary school in Essex?
Kenningtons Primary Academy tops the Essex primary school ranking (LocaleIQ 98.8). Ofsted: Outstanding. KS2 expected 88% · higher 19%. See the full primary school ranking for Essex for the complete list.
Which secondary schools in Essex 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 Essex: 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 Essex are rated Outstanding by Ofsted?
7 secondary schools in the Essex 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 Essex?
This ranking covers 23 secondary schools in the Essex comparison pool, across 14 local authority districts. Schools without sufficient published data are excluded but may appear in the LocaleIQ directory.
Which area of Essex 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-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.
Ranking data last computed 29 March 2026.