Classpot

The Boswells School

Chelmsford, CM1 6LYSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2023
Progress 8
-0.16
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
219 1st-choice / 241 places
Ranking
#1,907
of 3,141 nationally

About The Boswells School

If you're a parent weighing up The Boswells School, the numbers suggest it's a popular choice. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 846 applications for 241 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.51, meaning over three families applied for every spot. Of those, 219 put it as their first preference, and 200 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand is a strong signal from local parents. The school is a mixed, non-religious state secondary for ages 11 to 18, located in Chelmsford, Essex, and currently rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2023. The inspection confirmed the school 'remains Good', consistent with its previous graded inspection in 2013, where leadership and management, sixth-form provision, and overall effectiveness were all rated Good.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressBurnham Road, Chelmsford, Chelmsford, CM1 6LY
HeadteacherStephen Mansell
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils1,409
Free School Meals (FSM)15.7%
School Capacity1,409 / 1,431 (98% 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

22 Feb 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (22 Feb 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 17 May 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
Dining HallScience LabsArt StudiosSports HallMusic RoomsICT SuiteSixth Form CentreLibraryTheatreAstro TurfSwimming PoolPlaying Fields

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

DanceCricketTennisNetballGymnasticsRowingRugbyRoundersBasketballMartial Arts

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubOrchestraDebateCodingFilm ClubDuke of Edinburgh

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:35 – 15:00

Source: boswells-school.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Boswells School

The Boswells School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.