Best Secondary Schools in Southend-on-Sea 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 12 schools across Southend-on-Sea. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Southend-on-Sea has 12 open secondary schools. Of the 12 with a published Ofsted inspection, 5 (42%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 83% 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, Westcliff High School for Boys Academy 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 Southend-on-Sea 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.

12
Total schools
5
Outstanding (historic grade)
42%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
63.1%
Avg KS2 SATs
45.1
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Westcliff High School for Boys Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
🥈 Southend High School for Boys
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
🥉 Southend High School for Girls
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
4. Westcliff High School for Girls
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
5. The Eastwood Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 74 View school
6. St Bernard's High School
Secondary
 Good 71 View school
7. St Thomas More High School
Secondary
 Good 68 View school
8. Shoeburyness High School
Secondary
 Good 49 View school
9. Belfairs Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 49 View school
10. Cecil Jones Academy
Secondary
 Good 46 View school
11. Southchurch High School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 41 View school
12. Chase High School
Secondary
 Good 36 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 Southend-on-Sea

Best primary schools in Southend-on-SeaTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in Southend-on-SeaTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in Southend-on-SeaPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in Southend-on-SeaReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in EssexCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in ThurrockCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in MedwayCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in KentCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Southend-on-Sea?
There are 12 open secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea (closed schools are excluded). 5 of the 12 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 Southend-on-Sea?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Southend-on-Sea is Westcliff High School for Boys Academy. The full ranked table above lists the top 12 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 Southend-on-Sea?
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 Southend-on-Sea?
Primary and secondary applications in Southend-on-Sea 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 Southend-on-Sea 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.