St Bernard's High School
Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 7JS · Southend-on-Sea · secondary school
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7th of 12 secondary schools in Southend-on-Sea we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 814 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 7.0/10 among them, against 7.6/10 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 | 51.8 · 67 | 30% | 2.00 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.57 · 87 | 25% | 2.17 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 51.5 · 76 | 10% | 0.76 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Bernard's High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 59.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 54.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 stood at +0.57 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (8.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 8.4 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2023.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,001 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,030. 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 in raising their Attainment 8 scores further? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths?
What Ofsted said about St Bernard's High School
Overview
St Bernard’s High School continues to be a good school, described as “welcoming” and “inclusive” with high expectations for learning and behaviour. Pupils are “keen to do well,” demonstrating focused engagement in lessons and respectful conduct during breaks. The school offers a broad, ambitious curriculum and extensive enrichment opportunities, including leadership roles for sixth-form students.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “well planned” from Years 7 to 13, allowing pupils to build knowledge step by step, with many choosing the academically ambitious English Baccalaureate.
- Teachers possess “strong knowledge” of their subjects and present information clearly, using assessment effectively to monitor progress and identify gaps.
- Relationships between staff and pupils are positive, with bullying being “rare” and pupils feeling safe and confident that staff will deal with incidents effectively.
- Pupils benefit from a “wide range of enrichment and extra-curricular activities,” such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, educational trips, and leadership opportunities.
- Provision for personal development is prioritised, including careers education and cultural celebrations that broaden pupils’ understanding of the world.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure all staff make necessary adjustments to teaching so that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) can access the curriculum and complete work successfully.
- Leaders need to ensure support for pupils who have fallen behind in reading is “precisely targeted and monitored” to enable them to catch up quickly and become fluent readers.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders establishing a “strong culture of safeguarding” and staff being quick to report concerns.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 55.5 |
| 2024/25 | 54.9 |
| 2025/26 | 51.5 |
| 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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