Lift Tendring
78%
Capacity
1,554
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About Lift Tendring
Lift Tendring is a large secondary school and sixth form in the Tendring district of Essex, currently educating 1,554 pupils against a capacity of 1,980, so there is some headroom for growth. The school serves a community with significant economic need: 29.5% of its pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average for secondary schools. Demand for places is strong — for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 342 applications for 242 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.41, with 215 of those applications coming as first preferences. That level of competition suggests local families see it as a viable option despite the challenges of its intake. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and led by headteacher Tom Burt, who took over a school that had been rated Inadequate by Ofsted in 2021.
Academically, Lift Tendring's most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024 rated it Good across all categories, a significant improvement from its previous Inadequate rating. At Key Stage 4, the school's Progress 8 score of -0.36 is below the Essex local authority average of -0.18, placing it 52nd out of 86 schools in the county. Its Attainment 8 score of 38.9 and EBacc average point score of 3.06 reflect a cohort that enters with lower prior attainment. The basics measure — pupils achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths — stands at 35.3%, while 56.1% achieved grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the picture is mixed: the value-added score of -0.43 is below average, with an average points per entry of 24.87 (equivalent to a D+ grade). Only 66 pupils took A-levels in the 2023/24 cohort, and no students achieved AAB or higher.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, gymnasium, and playing fields, plus a dedicated sixth form centre. Its extensive SEND provision covers nine categories, from dyslexia and moderate learning difficulties to autistic spectrum disorder and physical disabilities, making it well-equipped to support a diverse intake. Extracurricular options are broad — Model UN, DofE, coding club, orchestra, and a range of sports including rugby, netball, and gymnastics. For families in the Tendring area, Lift Tendring represents a school that has turned around from a difficult position and is now rated Good, though its academic outcomes remain below the local average. It will particularly suit parents who value strong pastoral and SEND support, and who are looking for a large, inclusive secondary with a genuine sixth form, rather than a high-performing grammar or selective school.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Rochford Way, Frinton-on-Sea, Tendring, CO13 0AZ |
| Headteacher | Tom Burt |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 1,554 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 29.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,554 / 1,980 (78% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 16 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.36)
2375th of 3,141
Nationally
274th of 350
In East of England
4th of 6
In Tendring
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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
32.0
'22/23
25.7
'23/24
24.9
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
2022/2334%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 292 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)34%
- FE college27%
- Sixth form college19%
- Employment7%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship4%
92% 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
2022/2356%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 117 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
6%
Russell Group
6%
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)56%
- Employment21%
- Not sustained11%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Further education1%
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- Biology14
- Physical Education / Sports Studies13
- Mathematics11
- Business Studies:Single10
- Art and Design (Fine Art)7
- Art and Design (Photography)6
- Sociology6
- Chemistry5
- Drama and Theatre Studies5
- Physics5
- Computer Studies / Computing4
- English Language and Literature4
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
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed242
342
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
215 families put this school as their 1st choice (63% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:15
After-school care
15:15-16:00
Source: tendringtechnologycollege.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.8%
- Mixed4.6%
- White (other)1.9%
- Asian1.7%
- Black0.3%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% 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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
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 Lift Tendring
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
Rochford Way, Frinton-on-Sea
Tendring, CO13 0AZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
