West Hatch High School, Chigwell

In its own words: "I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to you as you explore what West Hatch High School has to offer. Whether you are considering joining our school community or are already a part of it, I am excited to share with you the vision and values that guide everything we do."

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 26 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at West Hatch High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 51, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.5 in Essex and 47 across England.

59% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Essex and 47% in England.

That is up from 49.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.24: 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 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Biology, Physics and Chemistry.

For September 2026 entry, 328 families put West Hatch High School as their first choice and 784 named it as one of their preferences, for 248 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 115 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to West Hatch High School are Caterham High School (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.2); Woodbridge High School (1.5 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 55.5); Ilford County High School (1.5 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 77); and King Solomon High School (1.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 49.5).

West Hatch High School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Of the 247 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 94% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 33% to a further education college and 2% to an apprenticeship.

Of the 112 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 63% went on to university or other higher education, 1% to apprenticeships and 17% into work. 20% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

12.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 183 pupils (11.6%) received SEN support and 46 (2.9%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest Underground station is Chigwell Underground Station, about 990 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is West Hatch School (opposite), 140 metres away.

In 2024/25, West Hatch High School issued 140 suspensions, 9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to West Hatch High School are Roding Primary School (0.7 miles), Ray Lodge Primary School (0.9 miles), Buckhurst Hill Community Primary School (1 mile) and Limes Farm Junior School (1.1 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.