Schools by area › Essex › The James Hornsby School
The James Hornsby School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Sponsored academy
Leinster Road, Laindon, Basildon SS15 5NX · jameshornsby.essex.sch.uk · 01268 582400
On the mapSearch near SS15 5NX
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Feb 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 38.9
- average Attainment 8 score. Essex 45.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.3
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,040
- 140 over 900 places · 116%
- Local authority
- Essex
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 48%
- First language not English
- 6.9%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 259 families put the school first and 202 places were offered; 72% 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 | 202 | 259 | 1.3▲ | 72% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 205 | 245 | 1.2▲ | 77% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 210 | 269 | 1.3▲ | 70% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 207 | 245 | 1.2▲ | 74% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 205 | 230 | 1.1▲ | 83% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 38.9, and 26.2% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Essex it was 45.1, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼38.9 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼26.2% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼46.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲47.0% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.44 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 12.6 | +4.6 |
| Further education | 69 | +5 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.4 | −0.6 |
| Employment | 1.7 | −5.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.5 | −1.6 |
| Activity not captured | 5.7 | −1.7 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The James Hornsby School on 3 February 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 3 Feb 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Oct 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Oct 2021Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
May 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective May 2014Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
86% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (87 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 86%
- Positive
- 78%
- Replies
- 87
- 8% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 86% who raised concerns
based on 30 parents (34%) whose child was bullied
based on 38 parents (44%) with SEND