Hedingham School and Sixth Form, Halstead

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am delighted to welcome you to Hedingham School, an 11-18 Academy situated in rural North Essex. At Hedingham School, we maintain the highest ambitions for our students. We have strong traditional values and we work relentlessly to ensure that every child's academic and personal development is fulfilled."

In 2026, pupils at Hedingham School and Sixth Form averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.5 in Essex and 47 across England.

40% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Essex and 47% in England.

That is up from 39.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.27: 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 26.5, against 46.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 20.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Sports Studies and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 177 families put Hedingham School and Sixth Form as their first choice and 300 named it as one of their preferences, for 189 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

Of the 188 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 37% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 80 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 34% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 29% into work. 14% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

15% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 102 pupils (8.7%) received SEN support and 38 (3.2%) 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 autism.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Hedingham School and Sixth Form.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hedingham School (outside), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 20 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 Essex (97).

In 2024/25, Hedingham School and Sixth Form issued 95 suspensions, 8.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Hedingham School and Sixth Form are de Vere Primary School (0.6 miles); St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham (0.8 miles); and St Giles' Church of England Primary School (1.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.