Secondary school

Woodlands School

  • Academy Sponsor Led
  • ages 11–16
  • Mixed
  • Essex
  • SS16 5BA
  • No sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Mar 2018

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 2,263 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 69%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 61%61%2016/17: top 61%2017/18: top 69%2018/19: top 69%2021/22: top 62%2022/23: top 75%2023/24: top 61%2024/25: top 69%No exams

Against East of England

Attainment 842.1 · East of England 45.93/10 Below−6.5 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths32.9% · East of England 44.9%2/10 Well below East of England−18.6 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score3.85 · East of England 4.014/10 Below−5.4 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24-0.26 · East of England −0.023/10 Below−7.2 pts since 18/19
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 48.7 · 259 pupils · East of England 50.52016/17: 44.3 · 255 pupils · East of England 46.22017/18: 42.5 · 268 pupils · East of England 46.32018/19: 42.8 · 277 pupils · East of England 46.32021/22: 46.2 · 295 pupils · East of England 48.82022/23: 41 · 296 pupils · East of England 46.22023/24: 43.6 · 299 pupils · East of England 45.62024/25: 42.1 · 292 pupils · East of England 45.8548.741No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 34% · 255 pupils · East of England 41%2017/18: 36% · 268 pupils · East of England 41%2018/19: 32% · 277 pupils · East of England 40%2021/22: 44% · 295 pupils · East of England 49%2022/23: 38% · 296 pupils · East of England 43%2023/24: 41.8% · 299 pupils · East of England 43.9%2024/25: 32.9% · 292 pupils · East of England 44.9%44%32%No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in62.4%
249 of 399 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 62.4%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st399249
2nd29423
3rd1639

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2007–2023

  1. 2007Outstandingas predecessor
  2. 2009Goodas predecessor
  3. 2013Inadequateas predecessor
  4. 2014Requires improvementas predecessor
  5. 2018Good
  6. 2022Ungraded visit
  7. 2023Remains Good

4 strong areas

  • Outcomes for pupils
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management
  • Personal development, behaviour and welfare
  • Quality of teaching, learning and assessment

0 weak areas

4 areas graded

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,513
Free school meals (past 6 years)33.0%
First language not English15.1%
SEN support9.9%
EHC plan3.8%
Absence (sessions missed)7.9%
Persistently absent pupils22.6%

Girls 46.5%Boys 53.5%

100.9% full · 1,500 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 99 responses (6.6% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school78.8% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school79.8% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved76.8% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 50.5% not applicable46.9% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year84.8% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 27.3% not applicable66.7% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed75% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child83.8% agree
  • My child does well at this school83.8% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing76.8% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school94.9% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school89.9% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development69.7% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent77.8% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher17.4
Pupils per adult12.6
  • Classroom teachers 79.2
  • Leadership 7.8
  • Teaching assistants 21.7
  • Other support 44.1

Teachers 87 FTE · Whole workforce 152.7 · 180 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£9,273
Spend per pupil£8,909
Staff spend per pupil£6,394
Reserve per pupil£1,051
  • +£1,573,000revenue reserve
  • +£544,000in-year balance

Grants £9,062 · self-generated £331 · premises £1,377 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

299 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained90.3%
  • Education81.6%
  • Apprenticeship4.3%
  • Employment4.3%
  • Not sustained5.7%
  • Unknown4%