Sir Frederick Gibberd College
Harlow, CM18 6RN · Essex · secondary school
Check the area around this school
39th 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 — 4.9/10 against 823 of them, against 4.2/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 41.8 · 42 | 46% | 1.93 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.09 · 43 | 38% | 1.66 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.7 · 43 | 15% | 0.66 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Sir Frederick Gibberd College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 43.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.09 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 880 pupils against a stated capacity of 800. 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 score is below the national benchmark? How does the college ensure equitable access to extracurricular activities for all students?
What Ofsted said about Sir Frederick Gibberd College
Overview
Sir Frederick Gibberd College is a secondary academy where pupils are described as “highly resilient” following significant site disruptions. The inspection identifies that while the sixth form and personal development are strong, the quality of education, behaviour, and leadership “requires improvement” due to inconsistent teaching and incomplete data analysis.
Strengths
- The sixth form offers a “broad and ambitious curriculum” with “expert teaching,” allowing students to gain necessary foundational knowledge.
- Pupils demonstrate strong personal development, being “respectful of difference” and confident in their understanding of “protected characteristics and multiculturalism.”
- Students benefit from an “extensive extra-curricular offer” and trips, with sixth-formers actively supporting younger pupils through mentoring roles.
- Staff are “alert to the local risks that pupils face” and receive regular safeguarding training, fostering an “established safeguarding culture.”
Areas to improve
- Teachers must consistently use assessment information to adapt the curriculum for differing pupil needs, as current practices leave some struggling to progress.
- The school needs to quickly address gaps in reading support, having been “slow to implement suitable support” for pupils who struggle with phonics.
- Leaders and governors must improve the recording, analysis, and use of data to identify where strategic action is needed, as current information is “partial or incomplete.”
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that while record-keeping is inconsistent, the safeguarding team acts promptly to ensure vulnerable pupils are kept safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 46.2 |
| 2024/25 | 44.0 |
| 2025/26 | 44.7 |
| 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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