The Basildon Upper Academy
65%
Capacity
913
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About The Basildon Upper Academy
The Basildon Upper Academy was rated Good overall in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019. The school’s Progress 8 score, which measures how much pupils improve between Key Stage 2 and GCSEs compared with the national average, stands at -1.44. This places it 74th out of 86 secondary schools in Essex and in the bottom 50 nationally, with a national percentile rank of 98.6. The school’s Attainment 8 score is 26.6, and only 30% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs. While these figures are below the local authority average Progress 8 of -0.18, the school serves a high-needs population, with 44.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average.
Ofsted’s breakdown shows that while overall effectiveness and most individual categories are now Good, behaviour and attitudes remain Requires Improvement. The school’s sixth form is also rated Good, with 45 students in the 2023/24 cohort. A-level outcomes are below average, with a value-added score of -0.58 and an average points per entry of 14.14, equating to an E+ grade. Only 1.5% of pupils entered the EBacc at grade 5 or above, and the EBacc average points score is 2.38. The school’s Progress 8 scores are negative across all subject groups, with the weakest performance in open subjects (-1.71) and the strongest, though still negative, in maths (-1.16). These results suggest the school is working to raise attainment from a low starting point.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a sixth form centre, and a chapel. Sports on offer include football, netball, rugby, martial arts, and dance, while clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. The school has a strong SEND provision, covering areas such as autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. With a capacity of 1,400 but only 913 pupils on roll, the school is not oversubscribed. It is a 14-19 upper academy, meaning it takes students from Year 10 onwards, and has its own sixth form. This school may suit families looking for a supportive environment with strong SEND resources, particularly those who value the breadth of extracurricular activities and the convenience of an on-site sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 14 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Wickford Avenue, Pitsea, Basildon, Basildon, SS13 3HL |
| Headteacher | Rebecca Rees |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 913 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 44.2% |
| School Capacity | 913 / 1,400 (65% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Nov 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 18 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.44)
3097th of 3,141
Nationally
345th of 350
In East of England
7th of 8
In Basildon
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
20.5
'22/23
18.8
'23/24
14.1
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
2022/2346%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 161 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)46%
- FE college35%
- Not sustained9%
- Employment5%
87% 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
2022/2332%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 69 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
6%
Russell Group
8%
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)32%
- Employment30%
- Not sustained25%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Further education3%
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- Design and Technology (Engineering)12
- Psychology10
- Accounting / Finance8
- Art and Design (3d Studies)8
- Sociology8
- Art and Design (Fine Art)7
- Biology7
- Chemistry7
- Mathematics6
- Art and Design (Graphics)5
- English Language and Literature3
- Physics3
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
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than 75% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British56.8%
- White (other)12.2%
- Mixed6.9%
- Asian4.0%
- Black1.3%
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.
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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
12
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
10
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 The Basildon Upper Academy
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
Contact Information
Wickford Avenue, Pitsea, Basildon
Basildon, SS13 3HL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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