The James Hornsby School
Basildon, SS15 5NX · Essex · secondary school
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67th 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 — 4.3/10 against 380 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 | 14 | 35% | 0.49 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 32.7 · 20 | 30% | 0.59 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.32 · 26 | 25% | 0.64 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.8 · 28 | 10% | 0.27 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The James Hornsby School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 26.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 38.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.32 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 (3.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.7 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 swim, STEM, French, Further Maths, Harry Potter, and Home Work clubs. Sports include football, hockey, basketball, volleyball, netball, badminton, kayaking, and scuba-diving. The school offers residential field courses and trips to Europe, alongside an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,040 pupils against a stated capacity of 900. 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 Att
What Ofsted said about The James Hornsby School
Overview
The inspection describes a school where pupils feel safe, supported, and valued within a calm and inclusive environment. While personal development is a clear strength and behaviour is orderly, examination outcomes remain below national averages, particularly in English and mathematics.
Strengths
- Personal development is a "clear strength," with a "coherent and highly inclusive" programme that helps pupils build confidence and cultural awareness.
- The 'education‑extra' programme offers a "wide range of free clubs," ensuring disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils can participate fully.
- Behaviour is "calm and orderly," with pupils moving respectfully around the site and bullying being "uncommon."
- Leaders have created an "inclusive culture" where staff know pupils well and provide tailored support for those with special educational needs.
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are actively identified and managed.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure teaching improvements support better examination outcomes, particularly in English and mathematics.
- Teachers need to check pupils’ understanding consistently well so misconceptions are addressed quickly.
- Pupils in key stage 4 ready for more complex learning must be given work well matched to their needs.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, meaning leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 40.2 |
| 2024/25 | 38.9 |
| 2025/26 | 41.8 |
| 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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