Classpot

Southend High School for Boys

Southend-on-Sea, SS0 0RGSecondaryAges 11–18BoysState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Jun 2024
Progress 8
+0.74
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.5×
Oversubscribed
259 1st-choice / 178 places
Ranking
🏆Top 10%
#240 of 3,141 nationally

About Southend High School for Boys

Southend High School for Boys is a large, oversubscribed state grammar school that significantly exceeds its physical capacity, with 1,325 pupils on roll against a stated capacity of 1,060. The school is selective and single-sex for boys aged 11 to 18, with a co-educational sixth form. Demand is extremely high: for 178 places in the 2025/26 intake, the school received 1,058 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 5.94 applicants per place. Of those, 259 put it as their first preference, and 141 first-preference offers were made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 7.4%, which is notably lower than the national average for secondary schools, reflecting the selective intake. The school sits in Southend-on-Sea, a local authority where five of 13 secondary schools hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, and Southend High School for Boys is one of them.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderBoys
Religious CharacterNone
AddressPrittlewell Chase, Southend-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 0RG
HeadteacherRachel Worth
Local AuthoritySouthend-on-Sea
Number of Pupils1,325
Free School Meals (FSM)7.4%
School Capacity1,325 / 1,060 (125% 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

12 Jun 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 10 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
Art StudiosGymnasiumDining HallTennis CourtsSwimming PoolSixth Form CentreAstro TurfSports HallMusic RoomsTheatreScience Labs

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

BadmintonHockeyFootballMartial ArtsDanceRowingRoundersCross CountryGymnasticsAthletics

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubFilm ClubModel United NationsNewspaperBook ClubDuke of EdinburghYoung Enterprise

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysicalOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:15

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Southend High School for Boys

Southend High School for Boys has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.