The King John School, Benfleet

Ofsted's report card from its 20 January 2026 inspection grades The King John School on 7 areas: 6 strong standard and 1 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils revel coming to school and, consequently, attend very well."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have, over time, ensured that the curriculum is broad, relevant, ambitious for all and engaging."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "The King John School is a highly inclusive place where every pupil's academic success and wellbeing is a priority."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Staff and leaders at all levels are wholly committed to improving the life chances of pupils at The King John School."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's excellent personal development programme helps pupils flourish."

Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "Students in the sixth form prosper in an inclusive and positive environment."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils' achievement in key stage 4 is broadly in line with national averages for published outcomes."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue their work to further develop the teaching of writing across the school so that pupils communicate their ideas consistently well and achieve highly".

In 2026, pupils at The King John School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 51.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.5 in Essex and 47 across England.

55% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Essex and 47% in England.

That is up from 49.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.19: 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 39.5, against 53.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 29 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Social Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 481 families put The King John School as their first choice and 1097 named it as one of their preferences, for 346 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 151 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The King John School are The Deanes (0.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 32.2); Harris Academy Benfleet (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39); Belfairs Academy (2 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 45.9); and The Cornelius Vermuyden School (2.3 miles).

The King John School's 2026 results were higher than all 3 of them.

The King John School is one of 5 schools run by Zenith Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.2 in 2024/25.

310 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The King John School (as of April 2026): 96% would recommend the school, 95% say their child is happy there and 76% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (76%).

Of the 345 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 38% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 235 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 43% went on to university or other higher education, 11% to apprenticeships and 31% into work. 15% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

12% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (79%) and Black (6%).

In 2026, 303 pupils (14.4%) received SEN support and 38 (1.8%) 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 Benfleet Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is King John School (opposite), 200 metres away.

In 2024/25, The King John School issued 137 suspensions, 6.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The King John School are Westwood Academy (0.5 miles), Hadleigh Junior School (0.8 miles), Hadleigh Infant and Nursery School (0.9 miles) and Thundersley Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.