Epsom and Ewell High School, Epsom

Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades Epsom and Ewell High School on 7 areas: 3 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Despite variability in the consistency of teaching in key stage 3 and key stage 4, pupils typically go on to achieve close to the national average in a number of subjects at the end of Year 11."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Pupils, including the above-average proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), feel a clear sense of belonging in this inclusive school."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the quality of the post-16 provision."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders have appropriate plans in place to reduce absence, including the persistent absence of disadvantaged pupils."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders generally have an accurate view of the quality of teaching across the school."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "There have been a number of recent changes to leadership in the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Needs attention. "Leaders have developed an appropriate personal development programme that helps pupils to build important life skills."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should raise their expectations for pupils' behaviour and conduct and ensure staff apply the agreed behaviour expectations consistently"; "Leaders should strengthen their actions to support further improvement in pupils' attendance, including for disadvantaged pupils"; "Leaders should ensure that the school's agreed pedagogical approaches are consistently applied and highly effective teaching is embedded across the curriculum so that all pupils learn well"; "Leaders should evaluate the impact of the personal, social and health education curriculum to ensure that pupils have a secure understanding of fundamental British values and the protected characteristics. This is to ensure that pupils are prepared well for life in modern Britain".

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a privilege to welcome you to Epsom and Ewell High School. Having been part of this exceptional community since 2015, I have seen first-hand the dedication, talent and care that define our staff and students."

In 2026, pupils at Epsom and Ewell High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.8 in Surrey and 47 across England.

31% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 54% in Surrey and 47% in England.

That is down from 44.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.39: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 32.5, against 41.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Geography, Combined Science and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 126 families put Epsom and Ewell High School as their first choice and 683 named it as one of their preferences, for 215 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Epsom and Ewell High School are Tolworth Girls' School and Sixth Form (1.2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 55); Blenheim High School (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51.1); Southborough High School (1.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.2); and Richard Challoner School (1.6 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 60.5).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Epsom and Ewell High School.

Epsom and Ewell High School is one of 31 schools run by Bourne Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.4 in 2024/25.

126 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Epsom and Ewell High School (as of April 2026): 69% would recommend the school, 69% say their child is happy there and 64% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (69%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (52%).

Of the 178 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 40% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 53 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 51% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 25% into work. 12% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 171 pupils (15.4%) received SEN support and 71 (6.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

Epsom and Ewell High School has a resourced provision for hearing impairment: 12 places, 12 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Tolworth Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cox Lane (opposite), 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 188 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and vehicle crime. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Surrey (76), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Epsom and Ewell High School issued 95 suspensions, 9.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Epsom and Ewell High School are West Ewell Primary School and Nursery (0.3 miles), Riverview CofE Primary and Nursery School VA (0.3 miles), Danetree Primary School (0.4 miles) and Castle Hill Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.