Chelmer Valley High School
Chelmsford, CM1 7ER · Essex · secondary school
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18th of 78 secondary schools in Essex we can score, 81 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 7.1/10 against 914 of them, against 6.5/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 50.0 · 62 | 30% | 1.87 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.25 · 69 | 25% | 1.72 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 48.0 · 60 | 10% | 0.60 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Chelmer Valley High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 43.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 45.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.25 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (5.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.6 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2023.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Glee Club and Drama Extra Curricular. Trips include visits to the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, and Williams F1, alongside the Skills Festival and Thorpe Park.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,200 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,168. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
What support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How are the drama and music clubs integrated into the wider curriculum?
What Ofsted said about Chelmer Valley High School
Overview
Pupils “flourish” at this school, benefiting from an “ambitious curriculum” and positive relationships with staff who set high expectations. The report states that the overall effectiveness is “Good,” with leaders ensuring pupils feel safe, valued, and well-prepared for their future lives through extensive opportunities and support.
Strengths
- Leaders have designed a broad curriculum where teachers “break learning down into smaller steps” to help pupils access challenging content.
- Pupils feel safe because bullying is “not tolerated” and discrimination is “not accepted,” fostering confidence to “be themselves.”
- There is “exceptional support” for sixth-form students, including high-quality guidance on careers and further education.
- Personal development is prioritised through initiatives like ‘Wonky Wednesday’, which teaches important life lessons such as personal finance.
- Leaders effectively support the weakest readers and ensure pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) access the same curriculum as their peers.
Areas to improve
- In a few curriculum areas, teachers do not adapt teaching effectively for struggling pupils, meaning these pupils “cannot access what they are being taught” and do not achieve as well as they should.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with staff well trained to identify risks and leaders working “relentlessly” to ensure vulnerable pupils receive swift support.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 46.2 |
| 2024/25 | 45.3 |
| 2025/26 | 48.0 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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