The Deanes
Benfleet, SS7 2TD · Essex · secondary school
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65th 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.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.0/10 against 893 of them, against 0.4/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 14.4 · 1 | 30% | 0.03 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.71 · 8 | 25% | 0.20 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 32.2 · 2 | 10% | 0.02 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Deanes overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. In 2024/25, 17.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 34.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.71 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than the national average for similar starting points. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.0 out of 10 among them, against 0.5 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 588 pupils against a stated capacity of 600. 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 used to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about The Deanes
Overview
The Deanes is rated as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, marking significant progress from its previous ‘Requires improvement’ judgement. The report highlights a ‘happy and inclusive environment’ where pupils feel valued and are supported by a ‘broad, balanced and ambitious’ curriculum. While teaching quality has improved rapidly, the report notes that some pupils do not yet retain knowledge as securely as they should.
Strengths
- Pupils thrive in a ‘happy and inclusive environment’ where they ‘know that they matter as individuals’.
- The curriculum is ‘broad, interesting and engaging’, with ‘Challenger’ lessons providing wider experiences for all pupils.
- Staff provide effective support for reading, including a ‘tiered programme of support’ for weaker readers.
- Personal development is promoted strongly through a high-quality PSHE programme and careers guidance.
- Staff are ‘highly positive about the support provided for their workload and well-being’.
Areas to improve
- Teachers must ‘carefully check what pupils know’ and adapt teaching to address gaps, ensuring pupils secure important knowledge before moving on.
- The school needs to support a small number of pupils to ‘take better responsibility for their own conduct’ to reduce low-level disruption.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 35.3 |
| 2024/25 | 34.4 |
| 2025/26 | 32.2 |
| 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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