The hardest schools to get into in Southend-on-Sea
Secondary: 308 families put Southend High School for Boys first in 2026 and 150 of them (49%) were offered a place - places depend on the 11-plus.
Reception: 89 families put Barons Court Primary School and Nursery first in 2026 and 35 of them (39%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Southend-on-Sea with at least 20 first-choice applicants, hardest first. Of the families who put the school first on their application, the share who were offered a place there. Data: Department for Education.
Secondary schools (Year 7)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southend High School for Boys · Southend-on-Sea · grammar (11-plus) | 308 | 150 (49%) | 177 |
| 2 | Westcliff High School for Boys Academy · Westcliff-on-Sea · grammar (11-plus) | 280 | 141 (50%) | 182 |
| 3 | The Eastwood Academy · Leigh-on-Sea | 359 | 211 (59%) | 220 |
| 4 | Southend High School for Girls · Southend-on-Sea · grammar (11-plus) | 271 | 161 (59%) | 217 |
| 5 | Westcliff High School for Girls · Westcliff-on-Sea · grammar (11-plus) | 239 | 160 (67%) | 185 |
| 6 | St Thomas More High School · Westcliff-on-Sea · faith | 202 | 143 (71%) | 179 |
| 7 | St Bernard's High School · Westcliff-on-Sea · faith | 184 | 143 (78%) | 175 |
| 8 | Chase High School · Westcliff-on-Sea | 113 | 112 (99%) | 182 |
| 9 | Shoeburyness High School · Southend-on-Sea | 243 | 243 (100%) | 310 |
| 10 | Cecil Jones Academy · Southend-on-Sea | 155 | 155 (100%) | 188 |
| 11 | Belfairs Academy · Leigh-on-Sea | 129 | 129 (100%) | 272 |
| 12 | Southchurch High School · Southend-On-Sea | 84 | 84 (100%) | 112 |
Primary schools (Reception)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barons Court Primary School and Nursery · Westcliff-on-Sea | 89 | 35 (39%) | 35 |
| 2 | Bournes Green Infant School · Southend-on-Sea | 92 | 58 (63%) | 60 |
| 3 | St George's Catholic Primary School · Southend-on-Sea · faith | 35 | 24 (69%) | 29 |
| 4 | Earls Hall Primary School · Westcliff-on-Sea | 113 | 83 (74%) | 84 |
| 5 | Chalkwell Hall Infant School · Leigh-on-Sea | 105 | 82 (78%) | 88 |
| 6 | Greenways Primary School · Southend-on-Sea | 98 | 77 (79%) | 89 |
| 7 | Hinguar Community Primary School · Southend-on-Sea | 28 | 25 (89%) | 30 |
| 8 | Darlinghurst Academy · Leigh-on-Sea | 61 | 55 (90%) | 60 |
| 9 | Hamstel Infant School and Nursery · Southend-on-Sea | 125 | 113 (90%) | 120 |
| 10 | West Leigh Infant School · Leigh-on-Sea | 129 | 118 (92%) | 120 |
| 11 | Eastwood Primary School & Nursery · Leigh-on-Sea | 61 | 56 (92%) | 57 |
| 12 | Friars Primary School and Nursery · Southend-on-Sea | 57 | 54 (95%) | 60 |
| 13 | St Mary's, Prittlewell, CofE Primary School · Southend-on-Sea · faith | 46 | 45 (98%) | 58 |
| 14 | Blenheim Primary School · Leigh-on-Sea | 68 | 68 (100%) | 86 |
| 15 | Temple Sutton Primary School · Southend-on-Sea | 68 | 68 (100%) | 81 |
| 16 | Leigh North Street Primary School · Leigh-on-Sea | 60 | 60 (100%) | 66 |
| 17 | Edwards Hall Primary School · Leigh-on-Sea | 56 | 56 (100%) | 58 |
| 18 | Bournemouth Park Academy · Southend-on-Sea | 53 | 53 (100%) | 59 |
| 19 | Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School · Southend-on-Sea · faith | 46 | 46 (100%) | 52 |
| 20 | Prince Avenue Academy and Nursery · Westcliff-on-Sea | 46 | 46 (100%) | 54 |
| 21 | Porters Grange Primary School and Nursery · Southend-on-Sea | 45 | 45 (100%) | 60 |
| 22 | Milton Hall Primary School and Nursery · Westcliff-on-Sea | 44 | 44 (100%) | 75 |
| 23 | St Helen's Catholic Primary School · Westcliff-on-Sea · faith | 44 | 44 (100%) | 55 |
| 24 | The Westborough School · Westcliff-on-Sea | 41 | 41 (100%) | 58 |
| 25 | Fairways Primary School · Leigh-on-Sea | 40 | 40 (100%) | 42 |
| 26 | Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School · Leigh-on-Sea · faith | 38 | 38 (100%) | 43 |
| 27 | Richmond Avenue Primary and Nursery School · Southend-on-Sea | 33 | 33 (100%) | 50 |
Getting into a school in Southend-on-Sea
What is the hardest school to get into in Southend-on-Sea?
For secondary places, 308 families put Southend High School for Boys first in 2026 and 150 of them (49%) were offered a place - places depend on the 11-plus. For Reception, 89 families put Barons Court Primary School and Nursery first and 35 of them (39%) were offered a place.
Southend High School for BoysBarons Court Primary School and Nursery
How many families in Southend-on-Sea get their first-choice school?
78.3% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 87.8% of those applying for Reception did (offers for September 2026).
Does putting a school first improve our chances?
Not at the other schools you name. Councils in England use an equal-preference system: every school you list is considered against its own admissions criteria, and if more than one could offer a place you get the one you ranked highest. So list schools in your genuine order of preference, and include at least one you are very likely to get.
What does "last distance offered" mean?
For schools that give places by distance, it is how far from the school the last child offered a place under that criterion lived. It changes every year with the number and location of applicants, so treat it as a guide, not a guarantee. We show it where Southend-on-Sea published it in its admissions booklet.