Best Secondary Schools in Essex 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 78 schools across Essex. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Essex has 78 open secondary schools. Of the 76 with a published Ofsted inspection, 8 (11%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 82% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Chelmsford County High School for Girls currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Essex follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

78
Total schools
8
Outstanding (historic grade)
11%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
63.9%
Avg KS2 SATs
42.2
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Chelmsford County High School for Girls
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
🥈 King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
🥉 Colchester County High School for Girls
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
4. Saffron Walden County High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 85 View school
5. Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School
Secondary
 Good 79 View school
6. The Gilberd School
Secondary
 Outstanding 77 View school
7. Moulsham High School
Secondary
 Good 75 View school
8. Davenant Foundation School
Secondary
 Good 73 View school
9. Anglo European School
Secondary
 Good 72 View school
10. St Benedict's Catholic College
Secondary
 Good 71 View school
11. Colchester Royal Grammar School
Secondary
 Inadequate 68 View school
12. The Billericay School
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
13. Great Baddow High School
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
14. St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
15. West Hatch High School
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
16. Lift Greensward
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
17. The King John School
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
18. The Boswells School
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
19. The Stanway School
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
20. Roding Valley High School
Secondary
 Good 61 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Essex

Best primary schools in EssexTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in EssexTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in EssexPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in EssexReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in Southend-on-SeaCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in HaveringCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in ThurrockCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Barking and DagenhamCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Essex

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Essex?
There are 78 open secondary schools in Essex (closed schools are excluded). 8 of the 76 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Essex?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Essex is Chelmsford County High School for Girls. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Essex?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Essex?
Primary and secondary applications in Essex are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Essex council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.