Schools by area › Essex › The Boswells School
The Boswells School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Burnham Road, Chelmsford CM1 6LY · boswells-school.com · 01245 264451
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Feb 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 48.4
- average Attainment 8 score. Essex 45.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,423
- 99% of 1,431 places
- Local authority
- Essex
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 16.4%
- First language not English
- 11.5%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 247 families put the school first and 241 places were offered; 79% 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 | 241 | 247 | 1▲ | 79% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 241 | 219 | 0.9 | 91% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 245 | 221 | 0.9 | 91% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 237 | 239 | 1▲ | 88% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 239 | 235 | 1 | 90% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 48.4, and 46.3% 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- (38.1 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲48.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ●46.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲70.4% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼37.5% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.34 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 42 | −6 |
| Sixth form college | 2.1 | — |
| Further education | 36.2 | −1.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.9 | +2.5 |
| Employment | 1.6 | −3.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.8 | +2.2 |
| Activity not captured | 5.3 | +4.1 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 students | B- (38.1) | Above average +0.18 | |
| 90 students | B- (38.3) | Above average +0.18 | |
| 6 students | Dist (35.8) | Average +0.39 | |
| 6 students | Dist*- (45.8) | Above average +0.72 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 113 | B- (37.6) | +0.06 |
| 2022/23 | 126 | B- (36.3) | — |
| 2021/22 | 118 | B (41.2) | — |
| 2018/19 | 127 | B- (35.2) | +0.01 |
| 2017/18 | 119 | B- (35.3) | +0.23 |
| 2016/17 | 108 | C+ (32) | -0.03 |
| 2015/16 | 119 | C (31.6) | +0.23 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 57.3 | −6.8 |
| Further education | 2.2 | +0.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 9.9 | +3.8 |
| Employment | 22.9 | 0 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.6 | +0.8 |
| Activity not captured | 3.1 | +1.6 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 22 February 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for The Boswells School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 21 Feb 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Apr 2013
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Apr 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Mar 2010Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
91% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (277 replies, to 1 January 2024).
- Recommend
- 91%
- Replies
- 277
- 19% · 1 Jan 2024
based on the 75% who raised concerns
based on the 38% who had a child bullied
based on 47 parents (17%) with SEND