Hylands School, Chelmsford
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The school has transformed its learning environment with much calmer behaviour and improved teaching quality. Pupils are increasingly enjoying lessons and engaging with their learning, with strong support for reading and literacy skills. Teachers have high expectations and use consistent lesson structures that help pupils understand what to expect and focus on their learning.
Key Strengths
- Curriculum is broad, ambitious and well-sequenced with improved teacher consistency in lesson structure
- Pupil behaviour has improved significantly with less disruption to lessons and calmer conduct outside classrooms
- Strong reading support with structured literacy opportunities and a well-stocked library
- New leadership appointments and effective professional development building school capacity
- Teaching quality continues to improve as pupils increasingly engage with and enjoy their learning
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff not consistently applying checks on pupil learning, meaning gaps and misconceptions are not addressed quickly enough
- Inconsistency in how some staff follow the behaviour policy, leading to occasional disruption
- Need for further work on teaching key vocabulary so pupils remember it
- Some pupils still do not attend school regularly enough despite leaders' efforts
- Published outcomes not yet reflecting improvements in pupils' knowledge and understanding
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - pupils learn how to keep themselves safe, including topics on healthy relationships and consent.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, careers education with employers and further education providers
Hylands School is making progress to improve, with developments in leadership, curriculum quality, and pupil behaviour. Some aspects still need further improvement.
At a Glance
45.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
27.8
Avg class size
22
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
56%
Available places
614 pupils
1,100 capacity
486 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Chelmsford
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Chelmsford
Admissions Demand - Essex
Places available
17,576
Applications
16,788
Got 1st preference
83.8%
Got preferred school
97.1%
Secondary admissions across Essex (2025/26)
Inspection History(111)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.34489%
Overall absence
34.18079%
Persistent absence
708
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Hylands School
Westlands Community Primary School
Writtle Junior School
Writtle Infant School
Widford Lodge School
St Cedd's School
St Anne's School
Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School
Lawford Mead Primary & Nursery
Oaklands Infant School
Maltese Road Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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