Secondary school

Helena Romanes School

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 4–18
  • Mixed
  • Essex
  • CM6 2AU
  • Sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Oct 2023

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 1,458 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 45%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 50%50%2016/17: top 43%43% · 2016/172017/18: top 59%2018/19: top 58%2021/22: top 47%2022/23: top 54%2023/24: top 68%2024/25: top 45%No exams

A-level results

#253 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 EnglandArrows: East of England rank change since 2021/22

Attainment 846.6 · East of England 45.96/10 Middle
Grade 5+ English and maths49.5% · East of England 44.9%7/10 Above+12.9 pts
EBacc point score4.09 · East of England 4.016/10 Middle
Progress 8 · 2023/24-0.38 · East of England −0.022/10 Well below East of England
A level points per entry24.99 · East of England 33.161/10 Well below East of England−23.3 pts
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 50.2 · 212 pupils · East of England 50.52016/17: 47.2 · 211 pupils · East of England 46.22017/18: 44.3 · 207 pupils · East of England 46.32018/19: 44.7 · 199 pupils · East of England 46.32021/22: 49 · 227 pupils · East of England 48.82022/23: 45.1 · 226 pupils · East of England 46.22023/24: 42.1 · 177 pupils · East of England 45.62024/25: 46.6 · 212 pupils · East of England 45.8550.242.1No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 44% · 211 pupils · East of England 41%2017/18: 32% · 207 pupils · East of England 41%2018/19: 36% · 199 pupils · East of England 40%2021/22: 50% · 227 pupils · East of England 49%2022/23: 46% · 226 pupils · East of England 43%2023/24: 35% · 177 pupils · East of England 43.9%2024/25: 49.5% · 212 pupils · East of England 44.9%50%32%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 20.92 · 87 pupils · East of England 29.022016/17: 24.84 · 77 pupils · East of England 29.412017/18: 22.37 · 86 pupils · East of England 30.942018/19: 23.28 · 49 pupils · East of England 31.322021/22: 33.12 · 48 pupils · East of England 36.152022/23: 30.05 · 43 pupils · East of England 32.282023/24: 29.09 · 73 pupils · East of England 32.652024/25: 24.99 · 76 pupils · East of England 33.1633.1220.92No exams

Getting in · 2026

Reception

First-choice families who got in100%
13 of 13 who put it first2022 · 100.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st1313
2nd180
3rd310

Year 7

First-choice families who got in100.0%
142 of 142 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st142142
2nd6520
3rd7011

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2006–2023

  1. 2006Satisfactoryas predecessor
  2. 2010Satisfactoryas predecessor
  3. 2012Good
  4. 2016Ungraded visit
  5. 2019Requires improvement
  6. 2023Good

6 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Sixth form provision
  • Early years provision
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

6 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,265
Free school meals (past 6 years)19.3%
First language not English4.7%
SEN support15.6%
EHC plan1.4%
Absence (sessions missed)10.3%
Persistently absent pupils29.4%

Girls 48.7%Boys 51.3%

79.4% full · 1,593 places · 153 in sixth form

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 264 responses (20.5% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school82.6% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school82.6% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved72% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 58.7% not applicable43.1% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year60.2% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 24.6% not applicable65.3% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed34.9% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child73.9% agree
  • My child does well at this school80.3% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing76.9% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school91.7% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school95.1% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development63.6% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent76.5% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher18.7
Pupils per adult14.3
  • Classroom teachers 56.7
  • Leadership 11
  • Teaching assistants 11.5
  • Other support 26.4

Teachers 67.7 FTE · Whole workforce 105.6 · 126 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£7,394
Spend per pupil£6,969
Staff spend per pupil£5,348
Reserve per pupil£0
  • £0revenue reserve
  • +£558,000in-year balance

Grants £7,240 · self-generated £154 · premises £286 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: SAFFRON ACADEMY TRUST (9 academies) · trust reserve £2,582,000 · 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

177 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained90.4%
  • Education84.7%
  • Apprenticeship2.8%
  • Employment2.8%
  • Not sustained7.9%
  • Unknown1.7%

After sixth form (16–18)

83 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained85.5%
  • Education41%
  • Higher education38.6%
  • Apprenticeship6%
  • Employment38.6%
  • Not sustained8.4%
  • Unknown6%