Hylands School
Chelmsford, CM1 3ET · Essex · secondary school
Check the area around this school
72nd 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 — 4.0/10 against 437 of them, against 2.3/10 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 | 1 | 35% | 0.05 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 40.2 · 38 | 30% | 1.14 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.86 · 5 | 25% | 0.12 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.3 · 21 | 10% | 0.21 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Hylands School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 37.8% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 37.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.86 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally matched peers. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.0 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 the STEM club, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, student council, and Hylands Helpers scheme. Arts and music provision includes a school musical, choir, and dance.
Getting in
The published school roll is 614 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,100. 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 steps are taken to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the new Ofsted framework influence current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Hylands School
Overview
The report states that His Majesty’s Chief Inspector is of the opinion that the school "requires special measures" because it is "failing to provide an acceptable standard of education" and leaders are not demonstrating the capacity to secure necessary improvement. While safeguarding standards are met and behaviour is generally calm, the school faces urgent challenges across curriculum, teaching, attendance, and pupil achievement.
Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
- Behaviour is "generally calm" and "orderly," with bullying and unkindness being "rare" and addressed promptly.
- Leaders have established "clear expectations for behaviour" and routines that ensure a "calm and orderly start to lessons."
- Staff provide "timely, caring help" that supports pupils’ wellbeing, and pupils benefit from "supportive pastoral care."
- A professional learning programme for staff is introduced and "staff value" this work.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must strengthen challenge and support to ensure actions, including pupil premium funding usage, make a "positive difference for pupils."
- Leaders should ensure teachers have a "clear understanding of pupils’ starting points" and provide work that is "appropriately ambitious and well adapted."
- Leaders should strengthen systems to identify, review, and support the needs of pupils with SEND, ensuring staff develop appropriate expertise.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, meaning leaders have established an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and pupils are "made safer and feel safe."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 32.6 |
| 2024/25 | 37.8 |
| 2025/26 | 40.3 |
| 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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