William de Ferrers School
Chelmsford, CM3 5JU · Essex · secondary school
Check the area around this school
55th 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 the 685 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.5/10 among them, against 3.3/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 41.9 · 42 | 46% | 1.94 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.41 · 20 | 38% | 0.78 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.8 · 38 | 15% | 0.59 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
William de Ferrers School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 38.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.41 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally similar peers. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.2 out of 10 among them, against 3.1 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,237 pupils against a stated capacity of 2,076. 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 improve their progress scores? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their attainment above the national median?
What Ofsted said about William de Ferrers School
Overview
Pupils enjoy attending the school and benefit from a broad curriculum and strong personal development opportunities. While behaviour and attitudes are rated as good, the quality of education requires improvement due to inconsistent teaching standards. Consequently, many pupils do not achieve as well as they should, particularly in reading and subject knowledge depth.
Strengths
- Pupils behave very well, treating others with "courtesy and kindness" under the new behaviour policy.
- The curriculum is well-structured, with clear sequencing and "‘Do now’ tasks" to aid recall.
- Personal development is effective, preparing pupils for life in modern Britain through citizenship and work experience.
- Sixth-form students are "well prepared for their next steps" with effective careers advice.
- Leadership has managed recent changes well, gaining confidence from parents, staff, and pupils.
Areas to improve
- Ensure staff receive training to provide "consistently high-quality learning experiences" and improve teaching standards across the school.
- Rigorously check pupils’ reading abilities and deliver effective support so weaker readers can "catch up with their peers".
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 41.2 |
| 2024/25 | 44.1 |
| 2025/26 | 43.8 |
| 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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