Hedingham School and Sixth Form
Halstead, CO9 3QH · Essex · secondary school
Check the area around this school
40th 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 796 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.0/10 among them, against 3.5/10 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 | 40.4 · 38 | 30% | 1.16 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.27 · 30 | 25% | 0.74 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.5 · 36 | 10% | 0.36 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Hedingham School and Sixth Form overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in May 2023. In 2024/25, 27.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.27 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. 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 2.0 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join rugby, football, basketball, athletics, cricket, futsal, table-tennis, and netball teams. Year 9 students visit Essex University for a Higher Education Visit.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,177 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 whose Progress 8 scores fall below the national benchmark? How does the curriculum prepare students for the specific challenges of the Year 9 university visit?
What Ofsted said about Hedingham School and Sixth Form
Overview
Hedingham School and Sixth Form continues to be a good school, where pupils are polite, respectful, and demonstrate positive relationships with staff. Leaders have successfully adapted curriculum delivery following previous exam results, creating a well-designed structure that helps pupils build knowledge over time. The school fosters a calm environment with high expectations for behaviour, though occasional disruptions from a minority of pupils can impact learning focus.
Strengths
- Pupils exhibit strong behaviour and respect, with bullying rarely occurring and concerns addressed promptly by leaders.
- Teachers teach well, using effective checks to identify misconceptions and providing helpful feedback strategies for improvement.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are identified promptly and supported successfully alongside peers.
- There is a broad range of extra-curricular experiences, including meaningful careers advice and leadership opportunities like the student council.
- Staff feel valued, with leadership considering workload impacts and providing well-being sessions.
Areas to improve
- The personal development curriculum lacks the rigorous approach to delivery and checking understanding found in other subjects, leaving leaders uncertain if pupils retain key concepts.
- Personal development lessons in the sixth form are not as well planned, failing to consistently progress pupils’ understanding beyond earlier years.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with thorough systems in place, well-trained staff, and prompt follow-up on concerns to ensure vulnerable pupils receive appropriate support.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42.2 |
| 2024/25 | 39.9 |
| 2025/26 | 43.5 |
| 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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