Classpot

Great Baddow High School

Chelmsford, CM2 9RZSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jun 2022
Progress 8
+0.03
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
297 1st-choice / 240 places
Ranking
#1,455
of 3,141 nationally

About Great Baddow High School

Great Baddow High School is a popular choice among Chelmsford families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 297 first-preference applications for 240 places, with 215 of those families offered a spot. Overall, there were 1,112 applications in total, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.63 applicants per place. That level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, though it is worth noting that the school does not publish a parent-view survey result, so direct feedback from current families is not available to compare. The school is a mixed, non-religious secondary with a sixth form, led by headteacher Paul Farmer. It has capacity for 1,520 pupils and currently enrols 1,528, so it is running very close to full. Around 16.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average for secondary schools.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressDuffield Road, Chelmsford, Chelmsford, CM2 9RZ
HeadteacherPaul Farmer
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils1,528
Free School Meals (FSM)16.7%
School Capacity1,528 / 1,520 (101% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

29 Jun 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (29 Jun 2022): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 10 Jun 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Music RoomsTheatreAstro TurfICT SuiteSwimming PoolArt StudiosSixth Form CentreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

TennisNetballAthleticsHockeySwimmingRoundersDanceBasketballRowing

Clubs & Activities

DramaDuke of EdinburghChoirScience ClubNewspaperChessYoung EnterpriseDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Breakfast club

07:45-08:40

After-school care

15:15-18:00

Source: gbhs.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Great Baddow High School

Great Baddow High School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.