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William Edwards School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Stifford Clays Road, Stifford Clays, Grays RM16 3NJ · williamedwards.org.uk · 01375 486000
On the mapSearch near RM16 3NJ
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 42.5
- average Attainment 8 score. Thurrock 45.2, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.6
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 984
- 82% of 1,200 places
- Local authority
- Thurrock
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 22.4%
- First language not English
- 8.5%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 90 families put the school first and 159 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 159 | 90 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 201 | 93 | 0.5 | 99% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 206 | 158 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 210 | 221 | 1.1▲ | 81% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 250 | 176 | 0.7 | 99% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 42.5, and 34.8% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Thurrock it was 45.2, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼42.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼34.8% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼54.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ●42.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.64 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 16.5 | −2.6 |
| Sixth form college | 0.8 | — |
| Further education | 68.3 | −3.9 |
| Other education | 0.8 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 4.5 | +2.8 |
| Employment | 4.1 | +1.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.7 | +0.8 |
| Activity not captured | 1.2 | −0.5 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected William Edwards School on 10 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Needs attention
- Inspected
- 10 Mar 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Needs attention |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Nov 2023
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
- Apr 2025Monitoring visitEffective action
Nov 2023Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
May 2019Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Dec 2010Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding Feb 2007Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good
What parents said
72% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (116 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 72%
- Positive
- 56%
- Replies
- 116
- 11% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 78% who raised concerns
based on 23 parents (20%) whose child was bullied
based on 26 parents (22%) with SEND