Epping St Johns Church of England School

About Epping St Johns Church of England School

Epping St Johns Church of England School sits within the Essex local authority, a mixed state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 18. In the Epping Forest district, it ranks 4th out of 7 schools of its type, placing it in the top half locally. The top-performing peers in the wider Essex area include King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, Colchester Royal Grammar School, and Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School, all of which are selective grammar or faith schools with high Progress 8 scores. Epping St Johns is a different proposition: a comprehensive with a Church of England character, it serves a broad community and is oversubscribed. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 406 applications for 185 places, with 176 first-preference offers made from 189 first-preference applications — an oversubscription ratio of 2.19, reflecting strong local demand.

Academically, the school performs solidly against a challenging backdrop. Its Progress 8 score is exactly 0, meaning pupils achieve on average the same as those with similar starting points nationally, and this is well above the Essex local authority average of -0.18. Attainment 8 sits at 44.6, with 67.7% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 44.5% achieving a grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 34.8%, with 21.3% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good across all categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision — a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2015. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is 0.07, classed as Average, with pupils averaging a C+ grade per entry and 8.1% achieving AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects.

The school is well-equipped with facilities including a theatre, chapel, sixth-form centre, astro turf, science labs, and music rooms. It offers a wide range of sports from badminton to swimming, and clubs such as drama, debate, coding, and Young Enterprise. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 19.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It is a good fit for families seeking a Church of England secondary with a strong sixth form, solid but not exceptional results, and a clear record of improvement under headteacher Michael Yerosimou. The oversubscription suggests it is a popular choice locally, particularly for those who want a non-selective option with a faith foundation.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Epping St Johns Church of England School

Helpful Guides for Parents