Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School
97%
Capacity
1,013
Pupils
2.6x
Demand
About Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School
Parents considering Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School will be reassured by the strong vote of confidence from local families. The school received 457 applications for 175 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.61. Of those, 116 were first-preference applications, and 114 first-preference offers were made, indicating that almost every family who put it first secured a place. While the school does not publish a parent-view survey result, the sheer volume of demand speaks for itself. The school is a state-funded Roman Catholic girls' secondary with a co-educational sixth form, and it is heavily oversubscribed in a competitive Essex market. It ranks third in the local authority for Progress 8, behind two grammar schools, and sits just one kilometre from Becket Keys Church of England Free School, an Outstanding-rated school, so parents in the area clearly have high expectations.
Academically, this school delivers results that are well above the national average. Its Progress 8 score of 1.01 is classified as 'Well above average', meaning pupils make around one grade more progress per subject than peers nationally. This is a significant outperformance compared with the Essex local authority average Progress 8 of -0.18. Attainment 8 sits at 62.7, and 93.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 81% reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 5.73, and nearly half of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. In the sixth form, the school's value-added score of 0.06 is rated 'Average', with a points per entry of 35.13, equivalent to a B- grade. The best three A-levels average out at a B- as well. Ofsted's most recent graded inspection in March 2023 rated overall effectiveness as Good, with Outstanding marks for quality of education and behaviour and attitudes.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, a chapel, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include netball, hockey, rowing, and martial arts, while clubs range from Model UN and Debate to Eco Club and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The school has a published capacity of 1,047 and currently houses 1,013 pupils, so it is running close to full. It has a formal sixth form and is not a boarding school. SEND provisions cover a wide spectrum, including support for dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With 10.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school draws from a reasonably diverse catchment. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic progress in a Catholic girls' environment, and who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Queen's Road, Brentwood, Brentwood, CM14 4EX |
| Headteacher | Richard Wilkin |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 1,013 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 10.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,013 / 1,047 (97% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 11 May 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+1.01)
77th of 3,141
Nationally
9th of 350
In East of England
1st of 6
In Brentwood
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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
40.0
'22/23
36.9
'23/24
35.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2371%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 171 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)71%
- FE college21%
- Sixth form college2%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Employment1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2372%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 94 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
26%
Russell Group
29%
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)72%
- Employment15%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained4%
- Further education1%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology36
- Biology27
- Mathematics18
- Chemistry17
- Religious Studies15
- English Language and Literature13
- English Literature13
- Government and Politics13
- History13
- Physics6
- Art and Design5
- Art and Design (Photography)5
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed175
457
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
116 families put this school as their 1st choice (25% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: brentwoodursuline.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half 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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British34.9%
- Mixed7.1%
- Asian6.7%
- White (other)6.4%
- Black2.8%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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 Ursuline Convent 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
Queen's Road, Brentwood
Brentwood, CM14 4EX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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