Secondary school

The Appleton School

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 11–19
  • Mixed
  • Essex
  • SS7 5RN
  • Sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Feb 2019

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 2,643 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 81%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 19%19%2016/17: top 25%2017/18: top 48%2018/19: top 39%2021/22: top 74%2022/23: top 44%2023/24: top 69%2024/25: top 81%No exams

A-level results

#113 of 273 East of England sixth forms, state and independent, 2024/25

Independent and selective (grammar) schools choose their pupils, so high results partly reflect who gets in, not only teaching. Some independent schools don't publish results.

Against East of England

Attainment 839.6 · East of England 45.92/10 Well below East of England−8.1 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths31.5% · East of England 44.9%2/10 Well below East of England−8.1 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score3.45 · East of England 4.012/10 Well below East of England−17.8 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24-0.63 · East of England −0.021/10 Well below East of England−24.7 pts since 18/19
A level points per entry35.64 · East of England 33.167/10 Above+30.9 pts since 21/22
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 55.5 · 240 pupils · East of England 50.52016/17: 50.7 · 231 pupils · East of England 46.22017/18: 46.3 · 231 pupils · East of England 46.32018/19: 48.1 · 251 pupils · East of England 46.32021/22: 43.7 · 290 pupils · East of England 48.82022/23: 47 · 264 pupils · East of England 46.22023/24: 41.9 · 254 pupils · East of England 45.62024/25: 39.6 · 286 pupils · East of England 45.8555.539.6No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 46% · 231 pupils · East of England 41%2017/18: 48% · 231 pupils · East of England 41%2018/19: 45% · 251 pupils · East of England 40%2021/22: 38% · 290 pupils · East of England 49%2022/23: 47% · 264 pupils · East of England 43%2023/24: 41.3% · 254 pupils · East of England 43.9%2024/25: 31.5% · 286 pupils · East of England 44.9%48%31.5%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 27.24 · 54 pupils · East of England 29.022016/17: 28.27 · 76 pupils · East of England 29.412017/18: 31.79 · 65 pupils · East of England 30.942018/19: 30.1 · 76 pupils · East of England 31.322021/22: 34.06 · 80 pupils · East of England 36.152022/23: 28.5 · 59 pupils · East of England 32.282023/24: 29.56 · 86 pupils · East of England 32.652024/25: 35.64 · 65 pupils · East of England 33.1635.6427.24No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in97.0%
197 of 203 who put it first2014 · 93.5%2026 · 97.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st203197
2nd16764
3rd13819

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2006–2024

  1. 2006Goodas predecessor
  2. 2010Outstandingas predecessor
  3. 2013Outstanding
  4. 2017Ungraded visit
  5. 2019Good
  6. 2024Ungraded visit

5 strong areas

  • Outcomes for pupils
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management
  • Personal development, behaviour and welfare
  • 16 to 19 study programmes
  • Quality of teaching, learning and assessment

0 weak areas

5 areas graded

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,597
Free school meals (past 6 years)20.1%
First language not English6.9%
SEN support14.9%
EHC plan2.2%
Absence (sessions missed)10.6%
Persistently absent pupils29.0%

Girls 50.3%Boys 49.7%

106.5% full · 1,500 places · 166 in sixth form

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 228 responses (14.6% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school72.4% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school80.3% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved54.8% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 61% not applicable48.3% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year41.2% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 17.1% not applicable56.6% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?21.5% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 21.5% who said Yes above44.9% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child66.2% agree
  • My child does well at this school63.2% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing60.5% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school79% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school92.1% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development53.1% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent57.9% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher18.5
Pupils per adult15.8
  • Classroom teachers 76.6
  • Leadership 9.6
  • Teaching assistants 1.8
  • Other support 41.3

Teachers 86.2 FTE · Whole workforce 129.3 · 144 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£7,598
Spend per pupil£7,194
Staff spend per pupil£5,738
Reserve per pupil£472
  • +£739,000revenue reserve
  • +£632,000in-year balance

Grants £7,216 · self-generated £352 · premises £369 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: COMPASS EDUCATION TRUST LTD (4 academies) · trust reserve £3,665,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

254 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained88.6%
  • Education83.5%
  • Apprenticeship2.4%
  • Employment2.8%
  • Not sustained5.5%
  • Unknown5.9%

After sixth form (16–18)

110 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained83.6%
  • Education47.3%
  • Higher education46.4%
  • Apprenticeship5.5%
  • Employment30.9%
  • Not sustained10.9%
  • Unknown5.5%