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The King John School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

Shipwrights Drive, Thundersley, Benfleet SS7 1RQ · thekjs.essex.sch.uk · 01702 558284

On the mapSearch near SS7 1RQ

Overview

Ofsted
Report card
Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
GCSEs, 2024/25
49.6
average Attainment 8 score. Essex 45.1, England 46
Demand for places
1.4
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
2,098
98 over 2,000 places · 105%
Local authority
Essex
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
13.4%
First language not English
2.8%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Zenith Multi Academy Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 481 families put the school first and 346 places were offered; 69% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 278 (Places 304)278September 2023: 299 (Places 349)299September 2024: 374 (Places 349)374September 2025: 399 (Places 346)399September 2026: 481 (Places 346)481Places 346
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20263464811.4▲69%
September 2025Sept 20253463991.2▲80%
September 2024Sept 20243493741.1▲88%
September 2023Sept 20233492990.998%
September 2022Sept 20223042780.9100%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 49.6, and 50.3% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Essex it was 45.1, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (37.6 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 53.0 (England 46.3)53.02017/18: 50.8 (England 46.5)50.82018/19: 48.6 (England 46.7)48.62021/22: 54.4 (England 48.8)54.42022/23: 51.8 (England 46.3)51.82023/24: 51.3 (England 45.9)51.32024/25: 49.6 (England 46.0)49.6England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲49.646.0
▲50.3%45.4%
▲75.6%64.8%
▲50.3%40.5%
●4.294.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form52.8−5.9
Further education38.3+10
Other education0.6—
Apprenticeship2−1.8
Employment20
Not in a lasting destination2.9−1.7
Activity not captured1.4−0.9

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 29.2 (England 30.5)C2016/17: 33.4 (England 31.1)C+2017/18: 33.7 (England 32.1)C+2018/19: 35.1 (England 32.9)B-2021/22: 40.2 (England 37.9)B2022/23: 34.3 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 34.4 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 37.6 (England 35.0)B-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
207 studentsB- (37.6)Above average +0.24
207 studentsB- (37.7)Above average +0.24
84 studentsDist- (32.6)Average -0.04
17 studentsDist+ (38.2)Average +0.45
6.6%AAB or better
95.2%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24200C+ (34.4)+0.05
2022/23168C+ (34.3)—
2021/22191B (40.2)—
2018/19197B- (35.1)+0.12
2017/18187C+ (33.7)+0.11
2016/17208C+ (33.4)+0.25
2015/16185C (29.2)0.00

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University43.4−1.8
Further education0.4−0.1
Apprenticeship11.1−0.7
Employment30.6+2.5
Not in a lasting destination9.8−1.1
Activity not captured4.7+1.1

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected The King John School on 20 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.

Inspected
20 Jan 2026
Report card
Safeguarding
Met

Inspection reports

Graded areas

InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and well-beingStrong standard
Post-16 provisionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard

Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jul 2021

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Jul 2021Good
    Quality of educationGood
    Behaviour and attitudesGood
    Personal developmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    Sixth formGood
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Jan 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
  • Sept 2019Monitoring visitEffective action

Before September 2019

  • Feb 2019Inadequate
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    16 to 19 study programmesGood
    SafeguardingNot effective
  • Sept 2013Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
  • Oct 2008Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesGood

What parents said

96% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (310 replies, to 6 April 2026).

Recommend
96%
Positive
95%
Replies
310
15% · 6 Apr 2026
Child is happy at school▲95% agreeEngland 84%
Child feels safe▲95% agreeEngland 85%
Pupils are well behaved▲91% agreeEngland 78%
Gets the right support to learn▲92% agreeEngland 78%
School communicates well▲93% agreeEngland 77%
Acts in child’s best interests▲90% agreeEngland 76%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲90% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 86% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲68% agreeEngland 43%

based on 40 parents (13%) whose child was bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▲83% agreeEngland 63%

based on 59 parents (19%) with SEND

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