Esher Church of England High School, Esher

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades Esher Church of England High School on 6 areas: 1 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Pupils with additional needs receive thoughtful and well‑coordinated support."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Most pupils achieve well across the breadth of subjects."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance has improved over time and is now above the national average."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a broad and ambitious curriculum that is in place for all pupils."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and the areas they have prioritised for further improvement."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from a well‑planned programme that supports their personal development from Year 7 to Year 11."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "The school should ensure that assessment and feedback are used consistently well so that pupils understand how to make progress in their subjects"; "Leaders should ensure that staff fully consider the specific barriers disadvantaged pupils face, so they are able to support them effectively to achieve and attend well".

In its own words: "Subsequently, Trinity School was proudly renamed Esher Church of England High School in 2000, reflecting the close links with the Diocese of Guildford, whilst retaining its status as a Voluntary Controlled School. Since 2000 Esher High School has seen many changes."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are delighted to announce our Head Students for academic year 2026-27, Sam Edwards and Kaitlyn Hewett. Read on for their experiences at Esher Church of England High School. My journey through education has shaped my life in ways I cannot even begin to describe."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, hockey, gymnastics, basketball, dance, drama, STEM and art.

In 2026, pupils at Esher Church of England High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.8 in Surrey and 47 across England.

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

That is down from 55.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.22: pupils made above 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 42.5, against 52.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 28 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and History.

For September 2026 entry, 136 families put Esher Church of England High School as their first choice and 645 named it as one of their preferences, for 244 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 13 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Esher Church of England High School are Three Rivers Academy (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.6); Hinchley Wood School (1.7 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 63); Heathside Walton-on-Thames (2.2 miles); and Cobham Free School (2.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 56).

Esher Church of England High School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

Esher Church of England High School is one of 6 schools run by Enlighten Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 233 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 34% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

9.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (67%), Mixed (10%) and Asian (5%).

In 2026, 102 pupils (8.8%) received SEN support and 55 (4.7%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Hersham Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Esher High School (in), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 46 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Surrey (76).

In 2024/25, Esher Church of England High School issued 162 suspensions, 14.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Esher Church of England High School are Cranmere Primary School (0.5 miles), Esher Church School (0.8 miles), Cardinal Newman Catholic Primary School (1 mile) and Bell Farm Primary School (1.3 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.