Goresbrook School, Dagenham
Goresbrook School is an all-through school for pupils aged 2 to 18 in Dagenham, part of United Learning Trust. It has a Multi-faith religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the highest of the 9 schools in Dagenham with published results, and 391st of 3,298 across England. It was 76% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
- Progress (2024)
- Well above average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Barking and Dagenham (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Barking and Dagenham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Goresbrook School in detail
Goresbrook School in its own words
Coming up: an open day on Thursday 12 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Barking and Dagenham
Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at Goresbrook School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 56.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.4 in Barking and Dagenham and 47 across England.
63% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in Barking and Dagenham and 47% in England.
That is up from 55.6 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.87: pupils made well 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 53.2, against 59 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 5.8 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were French, Combined Science and History.
Getting a place at Goresbrook School
For September 2026 entry, 114 families put Goresbrook School as their first choice and 559 named it as one of their preferences, for 124 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 40 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Goresbrook School are Jo Richardson Community School (0.2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 47.4); Riverside School (0.9 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 57.9); Dagenham Park CofE School (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.5); and The Sydney Russell School (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.9).
Goresbrook School's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Jo Richardson Community SchoolRiverside SchoolDagenham Park CofE SchoolThe Sydney Russell School
The trust
Goresbrook School is one of 98 schools run by United Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49 in 2024/25.
What parents say
98 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Goresbrook School (as of September 2025): 74% would recommend the school, 77% say their child is happy there and 69% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (85%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (69%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 111 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 96% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 41% to a further education college.
Of the 38 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 92% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 3% into work. 28% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
54.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (36%), Asian (26%) and White British (13%).
In 2026, 97 pupils (8.9%) received SEN support and 15 (1.4%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Becontree, about 890 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Gale Street / Goresbrook Leisure Centre, 110 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Goresbrook School issued 128 suspensions, 12.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to Goresbrook School are The James Cambell Primary School (0.3 miles), Godwin Primary School (0.5 miles), St Peter's Catholic Primary School (0.6 miles) and Monteagle Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
The James Cambell Primary SchoolGodwin Primary SchoolSt Peter's Catholic Primary SchoolMonteagle Primary School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils flourish at this school. They are safe and appreciate the level of care that teachers show. Pupils speak of the 'safeguarding community' in school. They can speak to any member of staff if they are worried about anything. Pupils learn how to stay safe.
The school sets ambitious standards, but pupils understand that this is because all staff want them to be their best. This culture of high expectations pervades all aspects of the school's work. By the end of their time at school, pupils achieve exceptionally well. Pupils show high expectations of themselves through the quality of their academic work. They are keen to participate in the school's wide-ranging extra-curricular offer. There are opportunities for pupils to grow as leaders. For example, they can campaign to become a member of the school council or help out as cultural literacy ambassadors or librarians.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
There are high expectations for what pupils can learn and achieve, from early years to sixth form. The curriculum offer is ambitious in its breadth and depth. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities access the same ambitious curriculum. The school is quick to identify pupils with additional needs. Staff put timely support in place. They are well trained to adapt learning so that all pupils can make the best progress. The school also ensures that it helps pupils who join the school partway through their education to catch up on missed learning. Over time, pupils achieve exceptionally well, regardless of their backgrounds and needs.
The school has identified the important knowledge that it wants pupils to know. This becomes more demanding as pupils move through the school. For instance, in history lessons, secondary-age pupils engage with a range of source material. As they mature, pupils interpret these sources and evaluate their validity and reliability. Teachers return to important concepts to ensure that pupils have understood them. Similarly, the school prioritises the teaching of subject-specific vocabulary. Teachers explain and revisit this language to ensure that pupils understand, remember and use it correctly in their work.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its June 2019 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
About
Goresbrook School is a mixed all-through free school in Dagenham in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The school is run by the United Learning organisation.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
31.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
98 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has remained stable at around 0.87 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 53.4 to 56.6 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has remained stable at around 63% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 56.6 | 62.7% |
| Disadvantaged(45) | - | 53.2 | 46.7% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(65) | - | 59.0 | 73.8% |
| Boys(60) | - | 56.7 | 65% |
| Girls(50) | - | 56.6 | 60% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(57) | - | 58.9 | 68.4% |
| Non mobile(100) | - | 57.0 | 62% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 111 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
3
Permanent exclusions
0.29%
Exclusion rate
128
Suspensions
12.36%
Suspension rate
76 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,036 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby all-through schools
Keep up with Goresbrook School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Goresbrook School.
- EM3 Kids Club440m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Goresbrook School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Goresbrook School is in Barking and Dagenham; for families living there:
Apply to Barking and Dagenham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 82
- Fatal
- 2
- Serious
- 11
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 82 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 11 serious and 69 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
16 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Barking and Dagenham is 65 (the median across 68 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Goresbrook School
Will you get a place at Goresbrook School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Goresbrook School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Goresbrook School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Goresbrook School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Barking and Dagenham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Goresbrook School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Barking and Dagenham got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
76%
Available places
1,003 pupils
1,320 places
317 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Dagenham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Dagenham
Across Barking and Dagenham council
Places available
3,518
Applications
3,094
Got 1st preference
81.9%
Got preferred school
96.4%
All secondary applications across Barking and Dagenham council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
97
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
10.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1,089
Total Pupils
542
Boys
547
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
66
Teachers
16.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,348
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,585
Per pupil
£7657k
Total funding
£342k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.8%
Overall absence
13.7%
Persistent absence
988
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Goresbrook School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Goresbrook School
What are GCSE results like at Goresbrook School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Goresbrook School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 56.6. 63% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Goresbrook School's Ofsted rating?
Goresbrook School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Goresbrook School?
No fixed boundary. When Goresbrook School is oversubscribed, Barking and Dagenham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Goresbrook School?
Goresbrook School was not full in 2025: it ran at 76% of its 1320 places.
How big are the classes at Goresbrook School?
Classes at Goresbrook School average 24.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Goresbrook School?
Goresbrook School has around 1089 pupils on roll. 31% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Goresbrook School?
4.8% of sessions were missed at Goresbrook School in 2024/25. 13.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Goresbrook School?
Apply through Barking and Dagenham's coordinated admissions process, naming Goresbrook School on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Goresbrook School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Goresbrook School: EM3 Kids Club (440m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Goresbrook School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 82 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 11 serious and 69 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 16 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Barking and Dagenham is 65 (the median across 68 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Goresbrook School?
Goresbrook School is at Cook Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 6XW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)