Mayflower High School

About Mayflower High School

Mayflower High School is a large secondary in Basildon, Essex, with 1,620 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,700, meaning it runs close to full but with a little headroom. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 9.7%, which is below the national average for secondary schools and suggests a relatively less disadvantaged intake than many state schools nationally. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 887 applications for 264 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.36 to one. Of those applicants, 214 put Mayflower as their first preference, and 210 first-preference offers were made, indicating that most families who wanted a place got one, but competition remains high. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and has a sixth form, so it serves the full 11-18 age range. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2023, rated the school Requires Improvement overall, a significant drop from its previous Outstanding rating in 2016, which will be a key consideration for parents weighing up the school's current direction.

Academically, the school's Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 cohort was -0.19, which is classified as 'Below average' and sits just below the Essex local authority average of -0.18. This means pupils overall made slightly less progress than the national average, though the gap is narrow. Attainment 8 was 48.2, and 49% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics measure at the stronger pass threshold). The EBacc average point score was 4.49, with 62% of pupils entered for the EBacc combination of subjects. In the sixth form, the school performs better: the value-added score was 0.09, rated 'Average', and the average points per entry was 32.51, equivalent to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels averaged 32.84 points, also a C+. Nationally, the school ranks 1,982 out of 3,141 schools on Progress 8, placing it in the bottom half, but within Basildon it ranks 3rd out of 8 schools, so it is a relatively strong option locally.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a theatre, astro turf, science labs, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. There are extensive SEND provisions covering ten categories from dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder and physical disability, though the Parent View data shows no responses to the question on SEND support, so it is hard to gauge satisfaction in that area. Clubs are plentiful, with options from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to chess, choir, and Young Enterprise. Sports include rowing, rugby, and hockey. Parent View responses from 29 parents between September 2024 and September 2025 were largely positive: 89% agreed or strongly agreed their child is happy, and 83% would recommend the school. However, only 31% agreed that bullying is dealt with quickly and effectively, and 35% disagreed that the school keeps them informed about what their child will learn. This school will suit families in Basildon who want a large, oversubscribed comprehensive with a strong sixth form and good extracurricular breadth, but who are prepared to engage with the school on behaviour and communication issues flagged by inspectors and parents.

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