Schools in Southend-on-Sea
51 schools in 3 towns: how they were inspected, the best by phase, where places ran out, and the dates to apply.
Southend-on-Sea at a glance
- Schools
- 51 33 state primary, 12 state secondary, 1 sixth-form or college and 5 private. DfE Get Information about Schools, 17 October 2026.
- Good or Outstanding
- 92% 34 of the 37 state schools whose latest Ofsted inspection gave a grade. 3 more have the new report card, which gives no single grade. Ofsted, latest inspections.
- Oversubscribed in 2026
- 17 Of 41 state schools with DfE figures for 2026: more first preferences than places at entry (Reception or Year 7). DfE, school applications and offers, 2026.
- Offer distances held
- 38% How far the last place reached on offer day: held for 17 of 45 state schools that take an intake. Southend-on-Sea's published offer-day figures.
The best schools in Southend-on-Sea
Primary
| Place in Southend-on-Sea | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barons Court Primary School and Nursery | Westcliff-on-Sea | 1st (1/28) |
| 2 | Edwards Hall Primary School | Leigh-on-Sea | Top 8% (2/28) |
| 3 | West Leigh Junior School | Leigh-on-Sea | Top 11% (3/28) |
| 4 | Bournes Green Junior School | Southend-on-Sea | Top 15% (4/28) |
| 5 | St George's Catholic Primary School | Southend-on-Sea | Top 18% (5/28) |
| 6 | Hinguar Community Primary School | Southend-on-Sea | Top 22% (6/28) |
| 7 | Eastwood Primary School & Nursery | Leigh-on-Sea | Top 25% (7/28) |
| 8 | Chalkwell Hall Junior School | Leigh-on-Sea | Top 29% (8/28) |
| 9 | Fairways Primary School | Leigh-on-Sea | Top 33% (9/28) |
| 10 | Darlinghurst Academy | Leigh-on-Sea | Top 36% (10/28) |
Ranked on 2025 KS2 results: the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The same rank as the full Southend-on-Sea primary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 2 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Secondary (GCSE)
| Place in Southend-on-Sea | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westcliff High School for Boys Academy | Westcliff-on-Sea | 1st (1/12) |
| 2 | Southend High School for Boys | Southend-on-Sea | Top 17% (2/12) |
| 3 | Southend High School for Girls | Southend-on-Sea | Top 25% (3/12) |
| 4 | Westcliff High School for Girls | Westcliff-on-Sea | Top 34% (4/12) |
| 5 | St Thomas More High School | Westcliff-on-Sea | Top 42% (5/12) |
| 6 | St Bernard's High School | Westcliff-on-Sea | Top 50% (6/12) |
| 7 | The Eastwood Academy | Leigh-on-Sea | (7/12) |
| 8 | Belfairs Academy | Leigh-on-Sea | (8/12) |
| 9 | Southchurch High School | Southend-On-Sea | (9/12) |
| 10 | Shoeburyness High School | Southend-on-Sea | (10/12) |
Ranked on 2026 GCSE results: Attainment 8, the average grade across eight GCSEs. The same rank as the full Southend-on-Sea secondary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 4 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Towns
- Leigh-on-Sea 15 schools · best schools
- Westcliff-on-Sea 11 schools · best schools
Getting in
Starting Reception in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 September 2026 | Reception applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Southend-on-Sea council |
| 15 January 2027 | Primary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Southend-on-Sea council |
| 16 April 2027 | Primary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Southend-on-Sea council |
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Year 7 applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Southend-on-Sea council |
| 31 October 2026 | Secondary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Southend-on-Sea council |
| 1 March 2027 | Secondary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Southend-on-Sea council |
Every Southend-on-Sea admission date · After offer day in Southend-on-Sea: replies, waiting lists and appeals
We hold no catchment maps for Southend-on-Sea. Many schools here admit by distance; the catchment finder says which maps cover a postcode.
Offer-day distances (how far the last place reached) are held for 17 of 45 state schools (38%). Could we get in? sets your distance beside them.
Private schools, fees and childcare
Private school fees in Southend-on-Sea: we hold checked fees for 3 of 5 private schools.
Childcare costs, town by town. Nurseries in Southend-on-Sea by Ofsted rating.
Every school in Southend-on-Sea
Your children and your home, with the schools, the distances and the dates that are yours.Open your plan
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources are named beside each figure. How we know · All sources.