Clacton County High School
80%
Capacity
1,854
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Clacton County High School
Parents at Clacton County High School are broadly positive, with 80% of those who responded to the Ofsted Parent View survey saying they would recommend the school. That survey, which ran between September 2024 and September 2025, drew 142 responses and showed particularly strong satisfaction with the range of subjects and extracurricular activities: 88% agreed or strongly agreed there was a good range of subjects, and a similar proportion felt their child could take part in clubs and activities. The school is clearly popular locally — for the 2025/26 intake it received 505 applications for 324 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.56, with 342 of those applications listing it as a first preference. However, the picture is more mixed on SEND support: while 60% of parents agreed the school gives SEND children the support they need, 38% disagreed, a notable split. On behaviour and safety, around 80% of parents felt their child was happy and safe, though roughly one in five disagreed on each measure.
Academically, Clacton County High School sits below average compared with other schools nationally. Its Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.35, meaning pupils achieved about a third of a grade less per subject than similar pupils nationally. That places it 51st out of 86 secondary schools in Essex, and 3rd out of 6 in the Tendring local authority area. The Attainment 8 score was 38.5, and just under half of pupils (48.2%) achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. At A-level, the picture is similar: the school’s value-added score was -0.22, with an average points per entry of 29.39, equivalent to a C grade. The sixth form was rated Outstanding in its most recent Ofsted inspection, and the school’s leadership and management also received an Outstanding rating, while overall effectiveness remains Good — a rating it has held across both its graded inspections.
The school is a large, mixed secondary with a capacity of 2,320 and currently 1,854 pupils on roll. It has a dedicated Sixth Form Centre and a wide range of facilities including science labs, art studios, music rooms, a library, gymnasium, and playing fields. Sports on offer include tennis, hockey, cricket, rowing, and martial arts, while clubs range from orchestra and choir to Model UN and Young Enterprise. The school has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. With a third of pupils eligible for free school meals (33.4%), the school serves a diverse intake. Given its oversubscription, families applying will need to ensure they meet the admissions criteria, and those prioritising strong academic progress may want to compare outcomes carefully against local grammar and higher-performing comprehensives.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Walton Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Tendring, CO15 6DZ |
| Headteacher | Neil Gallagher |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 1,854 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 33.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,854 / 2,320 (80% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Oct 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (16 Oct 2024): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 29 Oct 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.35)
2338th of 3,141
Nationally
272nd of 350
In East of England
3rd of 6
In Tendring
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
31.4
'22/23
29.3
'23/24
29.4
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
2022/2348%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 264 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)48%
- FE college27%
- Not sustained8%
- Employment6%
- Sixth form college5%
- Apprenticeship3%
90% 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
2022/2351%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 121 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
6%
Russell Group
9%
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)51%
- Employment26%
- Not sustained14%
- Apprenticeship4%
- 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- Psychology20
- English Literature15
- Geography10
- Biology8
- Film Studies8
- Mathematics8
- Art and Design (Photography)7
- Drama and Theatre Studies7
- English Language5
- Physics5
- Chemistry4
- Computer Studies / Computing4
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.
Ofsted Parent View
142 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed324
505
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
342 families put this school as their 1st choice (68% 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: countyhigh.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British85.3%
- Mixed4.1%
- White (other)3.1%
- Asian2.7%
- Black0.3%
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.
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.
8
Total schools
6
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Clacton 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
Walton Road, Clacton-on-Sea
Tendring, CO15 6DZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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