Brentwood County High School
79%
Capacity
1,103
Pupils
2.9x
Demand
About Brentwood County High School
Brentwood County High School is a popular choice among local families, with 599 applications for 207 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.89. Of those applicants, 125 received a first-preference offer. The school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, but the high demand suggests a solid local reputation. It is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary for ages 11 to 18, located in the Essex borough of Brentwood. The most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated the school Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This marks a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2017, when it was rated Requires Improvement. The school has a capacity of 1,405 and currently has 1,103 pupils on roll, with 17.8 per cent eligible for free school meals.
Academically, the school’s Progress 8 score of -0.38 is below the local authority average of -0.18, placing it 56th out of 86 secondary schools in Essex. In the Brentwood local area, it ranks last among six schools on this measure. The Attainment 8 score is 41.1, and 61.1 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 20.4 per cent, with 10.2 per cent achieving the qualification at grade 5 or above. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.19, with an average points per entry of 26.25, equivalent to a grade of C-. The best three A-levels averaged 27.47 points, also a C-. The sixth form is rated Good by Ofsted and has 117 pupils. Nationally, the school’s Progress 8 performance places it in the bottom 50 per cent of schools.
The school offers a range of facilities including science labs, a library, sports hall, tennis courts, art studios, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include hockey, football, basketball, gymnastics, and cross country, while extracurricular clubs range from Book Club and Drama to Model UN, DofE, and Young Enterprise. The school has identified SEND provisions for moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and physical disabilities. With an oversubscription ratio of nearly three to one, families should be prepared for a competitive admissions process. This school may suit families who value a broad extracurricular offer and a sixth form on site, and who are comfortable with academic results that sit below the local average. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Becket Keys Church of England Free School, 1.3 km away.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Seven Arches Road, Brentwood, Brentwood, CM14 4JF |
| Headteacher | Stephen Bonnar |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 1,103 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 17.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,103 / 1,405 (79% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Jun 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 20 Jul 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.38)
2411th of 3,141
Nationally
279th of 350
In East of England
6th of 6
In Brentwood
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
27.6
'22/23
22.0
'23/24
26.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2352%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 111 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
17%
Russell Group
25%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)52%
- Employment26%
- Not sustained10%
- Apprenticeship5%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed207
599
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
125 families put this school as their 1st choice (21% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British60.2%
- White (other)8.3%
- Mixed7.4%
- Asian5.7%
- Black2.6%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
9
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
6
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brentwood County High School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Seven Arches Road, Brentwood
Brentwood, CM14 4JF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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