Shenfield High School, Brentwood

In its own words: "Shenfield High School provides learning for life. This focus underpins everything we do. Founded in 1962, our school has a deep-rooted tradition of providing a rounded educational experience for students supported by a strong set of values. In a rapidly changing world this is of vital importance."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, cricket, drama and philosophy.

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026 at 6pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Shenfield High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.5 in Essex and 47 across England.

36% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Essex and 47% in England.

That is down from 45.3 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.3: 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 35.4, against 44.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Chemistry, Biology and Physics.

For September 2026 entry, 189 families put Shenfield High School as their first choice and 1001 named it as one of their preferences, for 234 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 3 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Shenfield High School are St Martin's School Brentwood (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.9); Becket Keys Church of England Free School (1.4 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 55.5); Brentwood County High School (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.7); and Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 63.2).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Shenfield High School.

Of the 237 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 43% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 148 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 46% went on to university or other higher education, 10% to apprenticeships and 32% into work. 7% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

15.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 4.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (82%) and Mixed (7%).

The nearest railway station is Shenfield Rail Station, about 840 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

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

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Shenfield High School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Shenfield High School issued 138 suspensions, 9.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Shenfield High School are Long Ridings Primary School (0.4 miles), St Joseph the Worker Catholic Primary School (0.7 miles), Shenfield St. Mary's Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles) and Hutton All Saints' Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.