Chase High School

About Chase High School

Chase High School sits in the middle of the Southend-on-Sea secondary school pack, ranked sixth out of ten schools of its type in the local authority. That puts it in the 60th percentile locally, with a Progress 8 score of 0.08. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 is 0.12, so Chase is slightly below the LA norm but still in positive territory. The top-performing peers in the area are selective grammar schools — Westcliff High School for Boys Academy, Westcliff High School for Girls, and Southend High School for Boys — all of which post significantly higher ranking scores. Chase is a mixed, non-selective state secondary with a sixth form, and it serves a large cohort of 1,321 pupils against a capacity of 1,679. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Matthew Suttenwood. It’s worth noting that the nearest Outstanding-rated school is Southend High School for Boys, just 0.4 km away, which gives local families a clear contrast in options.

Academically, Chase holds a Good rating from its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2021, with an Outstanding mark for its sixth-form provision. The school’s Progress 8 score of 0.08 is classed as Average nationally, and its Attainment 8 score sits at 50.9. At KS4, 72.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though that drops to 53.3% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 37.4%, with 26.2% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the average points per entry is 35.18, equivalent to a B- grade, and the best three A-levels average out at a C+. The value-added score for sixth form is 0.05, also within the Average band. Compared with the local authority average Progress 8 of 0.12, Chase is slightly behind, but its sixth-form provision stands out as a particular strength, having been judged Outstanding by Ofsted.

The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, with 344 applications for 235 places and 227 first-preference offers made from 229 first-preference applications — an oversubscription ratio of 1.46. Facilities are strong and include a swimming pool, gymnasium, astro turf, sports hall, theatre, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. Sports on offer range from football and rugby to martial arts and dance, while clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language challenges, and autistic spectrum disorder, among others. This is a school that suits families looking for a large, inclusive secondary with a well-regarded sixth form and a solid set of facilities, particularly those who value the Outstanding sixth-form provision and the range of extracurricular activities available.

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