A host of south Essex secondary schools have received new Ofsted ratings in recent months.

With the news of schools being downgraded by Ofsted in recent weeks, while others have received heaps of praise from the inspectors, parents of children joining new secondary schools in September might be wondering what the latest report rated it.

We have listed below how each secondary schools across south Essex, including Basildon, Southend and Benfleet, is rated by Ofsted.

Outstanding

  • Beauchamps High School in Wickford - last report November 2014
  • Glenwood School in New Thundersley - last report December 2018
  • The Pioneer School in Basildon - last report June 2019
  • Southend High School for Boys – last report January 2015
  • Southend High School for Girls – last report February 2012
  • St Christopher School in Leigh – last report October 2022
  • The Eastwood Academy – last report November 2020
  • Westcliff High School for Girls – last report 2012, now an academy
  • Westcliff High School for Boys - last report 2012, now an academy
  • Ramsden Hall Academy 

Good

  • Estuary High School in Leigh – last report October 2022
  • Shoebury High School - last report June 2023
  • Belfairs Academy – last report December 2016
  • St Bernard’s High School in Westcliff – last report May 2023
  • Chase High School in Westcliff – last report March 2022
  • St Thomas More High School in Westcliff – last report January 2021
  • Woodlands School in Basildon - last report December 2022
  • Castledon School in Wickford - last report January 2019
  • St Clere's School in Stanford-le-Hope - last report January 2019
  • The Billericay School - last report June 2018
  • Cedar Hall School in Thundersley - last report March 2018
  • The Appleton School in Benfleet - last report March 2019
  • The FitzWimarc School in Rayleigh - last report November 2022
  • The King John School in Thundersley - last report September 2021
  • De La Salle School in Basildon - last report November 2020
  • The James Hornsby School in Laindon - last report November 2021
  • Greensward Academy in Hockley - March 2018

Requires improvement

The majority of these schools have  confirmed with the Echo they have action plans to improve, and others such as Sweyne Park have slammed Ofsted's 'snapshot' approach. Click the links (bold and underlined) to read more on their reports.

Inadequate

This Southend school has made improvements but “more work is necessary”, inspectors said in January. The interim headteacher said at the time they are "driving towards rapid change".

The Ortu Federation is being dissolved at the end of the year with all three schools heading to new trusts.

*Cecil Jones Academy has not been rated since it converted to an academy. It was last rated inadequate in 2017. Castle View School has also not been rated since it became part of Zenith Multi Academy Trust. It was last rated requires improvement in 2017.

In June, Ofsted announced changes to improve inspection arrangements and reduce pressures on teachers and school leaders following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.

It said schools judged inadequate on safeguarding grounds only, and which would otherwise have been graded good or outstanding, will be re-visited within three months.