Harris Academy Ockendon
N/A
Capacity
1,420
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Harris Academy Ockendon
Harris Academy Ockendon was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in its most recent inspection in 2024, a significant improvement from its previous Inadequate rating. The school now holds top marks across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. Its Progress 8 score of 0.46 is the most telling academic metric, placing it well above the national average and significantly higher than the Thurrock local authority average of 0.14. This score ranks the school fourth out of ten secondary schools in Thurrock, within the top 25% of schools nationally, and 59th out of 350 schools in the East of England region. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 52.6, and 77.5% of pupils achieve a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. Progress in maths (0.55) and English (0.41) is particularly strong, while the EBacc progress score of 0.57 is the highest of the school’s subject breakdowns.
At Key Stage 5, the sixth form is also rated Outstanding by Ofsted and serves 131 pupils. The school’s A-level value-added score is -0.08, which is banded as average, and the average points per entry is 28.91, equivalent to a grade C. The best three A-levels average out at a grade C as well, with 10.3% of entries achieving AAB or higher. The school performs well on the EBacc measure, with 86.7% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects and 55.8% achieving a grade 4 or above across all five components. The EBacc average point score is 5.02. Compared with the Thurrock local authority average Progress 8 score of 0.14, Harris Academy Ockendon’s score of 0.46 represents a strong performance, and the school is one of only two Outstanding-rated secondary schools in the local authority.
The school is oversubscribed: for 238 places in the 2025/26 academic year, it received 560 applications, with 251 listing it as a first preference, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.35. Facilities are extensive and include a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, sports hall, tennis courts, gymnasium, music rooms, science labs, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include hockey, football, rowing, rugby, cricket, and martial arts, while clubs range from orchestra and choir to coding, Model UN, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. For families in Thurrock looking for a large, high-performing secondary with a strong sixth form and a clear record of rapid improvement, Harris Academy Ockendon is a compelling choice.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Erriff Drive, South Ockendon, Thurrock, RM15 5AY |
| Headteacher | Jo Rainey |
| Local Authority | Thurrock |
| Number of Pupils | 1,420 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 26.6% |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
27 Feb 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 24 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.46)
552nd of 3,141
Nationally
59th of 350
In East of England
4th of 10
In Thurrock
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more 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
38.7
'22/23
29.0
'23/24
28.9
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
2022/2337%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 231 pupils).
- FE college45%
- School sixth form (stay)37%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained5%
94% 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
2022/2358%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 43 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
2%
Russell Group
2%
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)58%
- Employment21%
- Not sustained14%
- Apprenticeship7%
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- Psychology33
- Economics22
- English Literature22
- Business Studies:Single21
- Law21
- Biology17
- Sociology16
- Chemistry15
- Media/Film/Tv Studies14
- History12
- Mathematics12
- Religious Studies10
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed238
560
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
251 families put this school as their 1st choice (45% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half 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.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British49.0%
- White (other)17.3%
- Asian7.2%
- Mixed7.1%
- Black3.0%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half 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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
6
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
5
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 Harris Academy Ockendon
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
Erriff Drive, South Ockendon
Thurrock, RM15 5AY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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