Which school has the best GCSE results in Essex?

On 2025 Attainment 8, King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford tops the table in Essex with 83.3, against an England average of 46.0. Attainment 8 rewards intake as well as teaching, so compare a school's grade 5+ pass rate and, where published, its Progress 8 before reading the rank as a verdict.

When are the 2026 GCSE results for Essex schools published?

Pupils receive their results in August, but school-by-school figures come from the DfE performance tables, which publish provisional results in the autumn (usually mid-October) and revised figures early in the new year. This table shows 2025 results, the 2024/25 academic year, and updates when the next release is imported.

What is Attainment 8?

Attainment 8 is the DfE's headline GCSE measure: the average points a school's pupils achieved across eight qualifications, with English and maths counted twice. A score of 50 means pupils averaged roughly a grade 5 across those subjects. No Progress 8 exists for 2025 because these pupils sat no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020.

Why does a school in Essex show no GCSE results?

A school has no published figure when it had no Year 11 cohort in the year (a new school, or one that opened with younger year groups), when it converted to an academy and the DfE published results under its previous identity, or when it is independent and its pupils sat IGCSE, Pre-U or IB qualifications that the DfE tables do not count. Independent schools with a published figure are listed separately and unranked for that reason.

Essex GCSE results 2025: secondary school league table

100 state secondary schools in Essex ranked on their 2025 GCSE results (Attainment 8, the 2024/25 academic year, the latest DfE has published for every school), with grade 5+ and grade 4+ in English and maths, EBacc average point score and cohort size for each school against the England average. 15 independent schools with published results are listed separately, unranked.

County 147 state secondary schools 2024/25 results

Secondary schools in Essex ranked on Attainment 8

100 of 147 schools have published 2025 results; the top 100 are shown here. Source: DfE school performance tables, 2024/25.

Secondary schools in Essex ranked on Attainment 8, 2025 results
Rank	School	Attainment 8	Grade 5+ English & maths	Grade 4+ English & maths	EBacc APS	Pupils
–	England average	46.0	45%	65%	4.09	–
1	King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford Chelmsford · Academy converter	83.3	100%	100%	8.24	150
2	Colchester Royal Grammar School Colchester · Academy converter	82.1	100%	100%	7.85	128
3	Chelmsford County High School for Girls Chelmsford · Academy converter	80.7	99%	99%	7.94	180
4	Colchester County High School for Girls Colchester · Academy converter	80.6	100%	100%	7.82	191
5	Woodford County High School Woodford Green · Community school	80.1	99%	100%	7.92	181
6	Westcliff High School for Boys Academy Westcliff-on-Sea · Academy converter	77.6	98%	100%	7.53	177
7	Ilford County High School Ilford · Community school	75.7	97%	99%	7.33	180
8	Westcliff High School for Girls Westcliff-on-Sea · Academy converter	75.6	97%	100%	7.28	184
9	Southend High School for Girls Southend-on-Sea · Academy converter	75.0	99%	100%	7.09	176
10	Southend High School for Boys Southend-on-Sea · Academy converter	73.8	97%	99%	6.61	178
11	Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School Upminster · Academy converter	62.2	70%	91%	5.78	120
12	Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School Brentwood · Academy converter	61.0	78%	92%	5.48	167
13	Saffron Walden County High School Saffron Walden · Academy converter	59.7	66%	85%	5.57	303
14	Valentines High School Ilford · Community school	58.6	75%	84%	5.42	170
15	Moulsham High School Chelmsford · Academy converter	58.3	66%	84%	5.34	259
16	The Coopers' Company and Coborn School Upminster · Academy converter	58.2	71%	88%	5.41	209
17	Seven Kings School Ilford · Community school	57.3	71%	87%	4.95	176
18	Atam Academy Romford · Free schools	57.2	68%	84%	5.40	117
19	The Beaulieu Park School Chelmsford · Free schools	57.1	63%	82%	5.46	179
20=	Ark Isaac Newton Academy Ilford · Academy sponsor led	56.7	65%	85%	5.38	175
20=	Davenant Foundation School Loughton · Academy converter	56.7	68%	84%	5.05	183
22	Trinity Catholic High School Woodford Green · Voluntary aided school	56.3	66%	86%	4.84	235
23=	All Saints Catholic School and Technology College Dagenham · Voluntary aided school	56.1	60%	78%	5.17	229
23=	The Ursuline Academy Ilford Ilford · Academy converter	56.1	62%	84%	4.80	122
25	Becket Keys Church of England Free School Brentwood · Free schools	56.0	69%	84%	5.37	159
26	Grays Convent High School Grays · Voluntary aided school	55.7	61%	83%	5.21	137
27=	Anglo European School Ingatestone · Academy converter	55.6	57%	80%	5.22	235
27=	Goresbrook School Dagenham · Free schools	55.6	64%	77%	5.24	114
29=	Harris Academy Chafford Hundred Grays · Academy converter	55.5	68%	84%	5.16	188
29=	Riverside School Barking · Free schools	55.5	60%	83%	5.22	247
31	St Bernard's High School Westcliff-on-Sea · Academy converter	54.9	59%	84%	4.26	167
32	St Benedict's Catholic College Colchester · Voluntary aided school	54.7	62%	82%	4.72	180
33	Loxford School Ilford · Academy converter	54.4	60%	77%	5.09	299
34	Hornchurch High School Hornchurch · Academy converter	54.0	61%	77%	4.88	132
35	Chadwell Heath Academy Romford · Academy converter	53.7	55%	78%	4.64	180
36	Oaks Park High School Ilford · Community school	53.5	58%	76%	4.94	290
37	The Gilberd School Colchester · Academy converter	53.4	58%	77%	4.76	306
38	The Campion School Hornchurch · Academy converter	52.8	62%	81%	4.85	151
39	St Thomas More High School Westcliff-on-Sea · Academy converter	52.3	64%	75%	4.28	179
40	Woodbridge High School Woodford Green · Community school	52.2	58%	75%	4.99	295
41	Beal High School Ilford · Academy converter	52.0	59%	78%	4.93	351
42	The Eastwood Academy Leigh-on-Sea · Academy converter	51.6	55%	82%	4.68	222
43	The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls Romford · Academy converter	51.4	46%	71%	4.64	232
44	The Sydney Russell School Dagenham · Academy converter	51.2	53%	69%	4.79	341
45	The Royal Liberty School Romford · Academy converter	51.0	65%	79%	4.77	144
46	Gaynes School Upminster · Academy sponsor led	50.7	59%	82%	4.64	68
47	Robert Clack School Dagenham · Community school	50.5	50%	72%	3.98	466
48	Harris Academy Rainham Rainham · Academy sponsor led	50.4	50%	68%	4.54	173
49	Jo Richardson Community School Dagenham · Community school	50.2	49%	69%	4.00	291
50	Hall Mead School Upminster · Academy converter	50.1	51%	75%	4.73	210
51=	Great Baddow High School Chelmsford · Academy converter	50.0	56%	78%	4.35	249
51=	The Billericay School Billericay · Academy converter	50.0	48%	73%	4.50	263
53	St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford Chelmsford · Voluntary aided school	49.9	51%	76%	4.12	189
54	Barking Abbey School Barking · Community school	49.7	51%	70%	4.31	353
55	The King John School Benfleet · Academy converter	49.6	50%	76%	4.29	324
56	West Hatch High School Chigwell · Academy converter	49.5	51%	76%	4.11	248
57	Lift Greensward Hockley · Academy sponsor led	49.4	56%	77%	4.16	269
58	The Palmer Catholic Academy Ilford · Academy converter	48.8	47%	74%	4.39	192
59	Manningtree High School Manningtree · Academy converter	48.6	53%	74%	4.32	182
60	The Boswells School Chelmsford · Academy converter	48.4	46%	70%	4.34	240
61	Debden Park High School Loughton · Academy converter	48.3	50%	74%	4.06	179
62	The Stanway School Colchester · Academy converter	48.2	54%	74%	4.25	272
63	Beauchamps High School Wickford · Foundation school	48.1	53%	74%	4.49	244
64	Harris Academy Riverside Purfleet · Free schools	47.9	45%	68%	4.52	170
65=	Mayflower High School Billericay · Academy converter	47.6	47%	73%	4.43	269
65=	The Warren School Romford · Academy sponsor led	47.6	45%	71%	4.28	205
67	Highams Park School London · Academy converter	47.5	45%	67%	4.40	234
68	Redden Court School Romford · Academy converter	47.4	50%	66%	4.39	206
69	Roding Valley High School Loughton · Academy converter	47.1	48%	69%	4.28	239
70	King Solomon High School Ilford · Voluntary aided school	46.8	42%	67%	4.31	175
71=	Helena Romanes School Great Dunmow · Academy converter	46.6	50%	70%	4.09	212
71=	The Sandon School Chelmsford · Academy converter	46.6	42%	70%	3.92	208
73=	Honywood School Colchester · Academy converter	46.3	48%	67%	4.00	139
73=	St Mark's West Essex Catholic School Harlow · Academy converter	46.3	39%	61%	4.32	170
75	The Gateway Academy Grays · Academy sponsor led	46.1	48%	65%	3.78	197
76	St Helena School Colchester · Academy converter	46.0	36%	60%	4.01	204
77	St Martin's School Brentwood Brentwood · Academy converter	45.9	45%	73%	3.99	251
78	Alec Hunter Academy Braintree · Academy sponsor led	45.7	49%	68%	4.13	208
79=	Abbs Cross Academy and Arts College Hornchurch · Academy converter	45.5	46%	69%	4.05	175
79=	Belfairs Academy Leigh-on-Sea · Academy converter	45.5	45%	64%	4.06	284
81=	Chelmer Valley High School Chelmsford · Academy converter	45.3	43%	67%	3.92	195
81=	Shenfield High School Brentwood · Academy converter	45.3	40%	64%	3.67	233
83=	Burnt Mill Academy Harlow · Academy converter	45.2	44%	61%	4.09	170
83=	The FitzWimarc School Rayleigh · Academy converter	45.2	41%	64%	4.01	289
85	Mayfield School Dagenham · Foundation school	45.0	37%	63%	3.82	290
86=	Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport Saffron Walden · Academy converter	44.9	48%	65%	4.09	179
86=	Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Form Braintree · Academy converter	44.9	38%	61%	3.85	221
88	Eastbury Community School Barking · Community school	44.8	38%	61%	3.53	274
89	Emerson Park Academy Hornchurch · Academy converter	44.7	45%	67%	3.83	207
90	Philip Morant School and College Colchester · Academy converter	44.5	37%	61%	4.09	313
91	Caterham High School Ilford · Community school	44.3	43%	56%	3.70	141
92=	St Edward's Church of England Academy Romford · Academy sponsor led	44.1	49%	69%	4.04	111
92=	William de Ferrers School Chelmsford · Academy converter	44.1	39%	69%	3.57	216
94=	Sir Frederick Gibberd College Harlow · Free schools	44.0	44%	63%	4.10	112
94=	The Sweyne Park School Rayleigh · Academy converter	44.0	47%	70%	3.99	247
96=	Brentwood County High School Brentwood · Academy sponsor led	43.2	43%	62%	3.87	146
96=	St Clere's School Stanford-le-Hope · Academy converter	43.2	41%	64%	3.82	256
98	Colne Community School Colchester · Academy converter	43.0	40%	63%	3.65	242
99=	Marshalls Park Academy Romford · Academy converter	42.9	33%	58%	3.92	226
99=	Plume School Maldon · Academy converter	42.9	37%	60%	3.57	289

Schools with the same Attainment 8 score share a rank (shown as "=").

Independent schools in Essex with published GCSE results

Listed as published, not ranked. The DfE tables count only reformed GCSEs, so a school whose pupils sit IGCSE, Pre-U or the IB reports a lower figure than its results merit, or none at all. Compare independent schools on their own published examination results and inspection reports.

School	Attainment 8 (as published)	Grade 5+ English & maths	Pupils
Al Madina School for Girls Barking · Other independent school	50.5	61%	18
Bancroft's School Woodford Green · Other independent school	42.3	0%	116
Brentwood School Brentwood · Other independent school	30.8	78%	185
Chigwell School Chigwell · Other independent school	21.9	0%	109
Colchester Prep & High School Colchester · Other independent school	61.0	65%	43
Felsted School Felsted · Other independent school	35.0	0%	101
Gosfield School Other independent school	50.5	54%	48
Immanuel School Romford · Other independent school	51.3	75%	8
New Hall School Chelmsford · Other independent school	70.5	88%	126
OneSchool Global UK Colchester Campus Colchester · Other independent school	58.2	69%	13
Open Box Education Centre Essex · Other independent school	15.2	33%	6
Read Academy Education Ilford · Other independent school	47.9	50%	20
Saint Nicholas School Essex · Other independent school	46.0	0%	40
St John's School Other independent school	45.4	42%	26
St Mary's School for Girls Colchester · Other independent school	66.5	82%	51

How to read this table

Attainment 8 is the average points a school's pupils achieved across eight GCSE subjects: English and maths (double-weighted), three EBacc subjects (sciences, computing, history, geography, languages) and three further approved qualifications. The DfE publishes it for every state school; the England average for 2025 was 46.0.

Grade 5+ in English and maths is the share of pupils reaching a "strong pass" in both; grade 4+ is the "standard pass". EBacc APS is the average point score across the English Baccalaureate subjects, including pupils who did not enter them.

Progress 8 is not shown: the DfE published no Progress 8 for 2025 because these pupils sat no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020, the baseline it is measured from, and the same applies to 2026. Attainment 8 rewards intake as well as teaching, so a selective school will usually top an attainment-only table.

Ranks are shared where scores tie. Schools are ranked here on published results alone; our composite score, which also weighs Ofsted inspection, progress and attendance, orders the same schools on the best secondary schools page.

See the best secondary schools in Essex on our composite score

Essex GCSE results 2025: secondary school league table

Secondary schools in Essex ranked on Attainment 8

Independent schools in Essex with published GCSE results

More about schools in Essex

Essex GCSE results: common questions