Davenant Foundation School

About Davenant Foundation School

Davenant Foundation School sits within Essex local authority, a mixed Church of England secondary with a sixth form that has carved out a strong reputation in the Epping Forest area. In terms of academic progress, it ranks first among the seven state secondaries in its immediate borough, and eighth out of 86 similar schools across the wider Essex authority. Its Progress 8 score of 0.47 places it comfortably above the local authority average of -0.18, meaning pupils here typically achieve nearly half a grade more per subject than students with similar starting points elsewhere. The school sits in the top 25 per cent of schools nationally for this measure, and in the East of England region it ranks 58th out of 350. The top-performing peers in the local landscape include King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, Colchester Royal Grammar School, and Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School, all of which post even higher Progress 8 scores, but Davenant holds its own as a strong non-selective option.

Academically, the school delivers solid results across both key stages. At GCSE, 82.3 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 68 per cent reached the stronger grade 5 benchmark. The Attainment 8 score sits at 55.4, and the EBacc average point score is 4.89, with 47.5 per cent of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. Progress in English, maths, and the EBacc subjects is all positive, with the strongest gains in open subjects and EBacc. In the sixth form, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection rated sixth-form provision as Outstanding, and the data backs that up: students achieved an average of B- per entry across their best three A-levels, with a value-added score of 0.12, classed as above average. The proportion of students achieving AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects is 15 per cent, and the overall points per entry grade is B-.

The school is oversubscribed, with 500 applications for 177 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, and 166 of those offers went to first-preference applicants. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 2.82, so it is worth prioritising on the application form. Facilities are extensive and include a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, playing fields, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. There is a chapel on site, reflecting the Church of England character. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Clubs range from coding and Model UN to gardening and Young Enterprise, and sports include rowing, martial arts, and hockey. This is a school that suits families looking for a high-performing comprehensive with a strong sense of community, good sixth-form outcomes, and a broad extracurricular offer.

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