Harris Academy Benfleet
Benfleet, SS7 5RN · Essex · secondary school
Check the area around this school
56th 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 the 878 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.3/10 among them, against 1.9/10 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 | 36.1 · 28 | 30% | 0.83 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.63 · 10 | 25% | 0.26 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.0 · 15 | 10% | 0.15 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Harris Academy Benfleet overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, inspected in 2025-01. In 2024/25, 31.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.63 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally matched peers. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.2 out of 10 among them, against 1.6 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,597 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,500. 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 and the national median? What specific strategies are in place to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Harris Academy Benfleet
Overview
The Appleton School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The report confirms that the school continues to provide a high-quality education with a welcoming culture and strong leadership. Inspectors found that pupils are happy, feel safe, and are well-prepared for their next stages of education.
Strengths
- Staff develop positive relationships with pupils, ensuring they are "happy and feel safe" within a "welcoming culture."
- The curriculum is "ambitious" and designed to build knowledge progressively, with effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
- Behaviour is managed effectively through a consistently applied system, keeping pupils "routinely focused and engaged."
- Sixth-form students receive excellent support for future education and employment, including "careers fairs, mock interviews, and a variety of work-based opportunities."
- Attendance is improving due to measures implemented by the school and close collaboration with parents.
Areas to improve
- Teachers should develop expertise to systematically identify and clarify pupils’ misunderstandings, ensuring "learning and vocabulary are firmly embedded before moving on to new content."
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 41.9 |
| 2024/25 | 39.6 |
| 2025/26 | 39.0 |
| 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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