William de Ferrers School, Chelmsford

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a privilege to lead a school where ambition and care sit at the heart of everything we do. We expect the very best from our pupils and staff, and we work together with parents to make every minute of the school day count."

In 2026, pupils at William de Ferrers School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.5 in Essex and 47 across England.

42% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Essex and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 44.1.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.41: 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 32.1, against 45.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 208 families put William de Ferrers School as their first choice and 416 named it as one of their preferences, for 215 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to William de Ferrers School are Lift Greensward (3.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.5); The Sweyne Park School (3.6 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 41.3); The FitzWimarc School (3.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.3); and Beauchamps High School (4 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 45.6).

William de Ferrers School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

William de Ferrers School is one of 11 schools run by The Chelmsford Learning Partnership, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.3 in 2024/25.

159 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about William de Ferrers School (as of September 2025): 68% would recommend the school, 80% say their child is happy there and 52% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (80%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (44%).

Of the 218 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 44% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 89 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 33% went on to university or other higher education, 10% to apprenticeships and 49% into work. 4% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

13% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 164 pupils (13.3%) received SEN support and 16 (1.3%) 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 railway station is South Woodham Ferrers Rail Station, about 1000 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (n-bound), 100 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 53 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, William de Ferrers School issued 270 suspensions, 21.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 5 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to William de Ferrers School are Trinity St Mary's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Woodham Ferrers (under 0.1 miles); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, SWF (under 0.1 miles); Elmwood Primary School (0.3 miles); and Collingwood Primary School (0.3 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.