Forest Hall School
Stansted Mountfitchet, CM24 8TZ · Essex · secondary school
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47th 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 — 6.4/10 against 801 of them, against 5.1/10 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 | 14 | 35% | 0.48 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 41.8 · 42 | 30% | 1.25 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.27 · 70 | 25% | 1.76 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 42.8 · 33 | 10% | 0.33 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Forest Hall School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 34.6% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.27 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.3 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in February 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Reading, Coursework, Performance Band, Chess, World Culture, Science, Homework, and Latin clubs. Sports include netball, badminton, basketball, and football. Arts and music options cover dance, karaoke, and art. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 506 pupils against a stated capacity of 648. 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
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current Attainment 8 and the national median? What specific support is available for coursework preparation in the final year? How does the new Ofsted framework affect the focus of your teaching strategies?
What Ofsted said about Forest Hall School
Overview
Forest Hall School is described as having a "positive and inclusive culture" where pupils feel safe and well supported. While inclusion and personal development are rated at a "strong standard," the report identifies that attendance, achievement, and teaching consistency currently "need attention."
Strengths
- Inclusion is a "strong standard," with staff receiving detailed information to support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities effectively.
- Personal development and wellbeing are rated at a "strong standard," with pupils showing maturity and confidence in discussing topics like consent and democracy.
- Safeguarding standards are met, creating an "open culture" where concerns are actively identified and managed.
- Pupils behave extremely well, bullying is rare, and older pupils act as "impressive role models."
- Careers education is high-quality, ensuring pupils make "well-informed post-16 choices."
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure staff "check pupils' understanding of the content they are taught systematically" to address learning gaps and misconceptions quickly.
- Attendance strategies need review to reduce persistent absence, as "not enough pupils attend school as often as they should."
- Leaders should deepen their analysis of data to sharpen the "precision and effectiveness of improvement actions."
Safeguarding
The report states that "safeguarding standards are met," noting that leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 44.1 |
| 2024/25 | 40.6 |
| 2025/26 | 42.8 |
| 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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