Grays Convent High School

About Grays Convent High School

Grays Convent High School is clearly a popular choice among local families. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 252 applications for just 123 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.05. Of those 97 first-preference applications, 92 were offered a place, meaning that while the school is heavily oversubscribed, a first-preference application gives you a very strong chance of success. This level of demand suggests that parents in Thurrock hold the school in high regard, and the school’s capacity of 620 is already exceeded by its current roll of 654 pupils, confirming its popularity. The school is a Roman Catholic girls’ secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form, so families should plan for post-16 options elsewhere. With 19.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse community, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good.

Academically, Grays Convent High School delivers strong results. Its Progress 8 score of 0.76 is well above average nationally, placing it second out of ten schools in Thurrock and in the top 7% of schools across England. This is particularly impressive given that the local authority average Progress 8 score is just 0.14, so pupils here make significantly more progress than their peers in other Thurrock schools. The Attainment 8 score of 55.3 is solid, and 76% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, with 56% reaching grade 5 or above. The school also has a strong focus on the English Baccalaureate, with 80% of pupils entered for EBacc subjects and 46% achieving the full EBacc at grade 4 or above. In English, the Progress 8 score is particularly high at 0.9, while maths progress is more modest at 0.13, suggesting the school excels in humanities and languages.

The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, and extensive sports grounds, with rowing, basketball, and martial arts among the sports on offer. Clubs include debate, choir, gardening, and Young Enterprise, providing plenty of enrichment beyond the classroom. For pupils with additional needs, the school has identified provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and physical disabilities. Given its strong academic results and Catholic character, this school will particularly suit families who value a disciplined, girls-only environment with a clear focus on academic progress. However, with no sixth form, parents will need to consider transition options for Year 12. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Harris Academy Chafford Hundred, 2.6 km away, which may be an alternative for families who don’t secure a place here.

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