The FitzWimarc School

About The FitzWimarc School

The FitzWimarc School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.2 sits just below the Essex local authority average of -0.18, placing it almost exactly in line with the typical secondary school in the county. That marginal difference of 0.02 points means the school is performing broadly as expected for its cohort, though the score is officially banded as “Below average” nationally. Within Rochford, the school ranks second out of four secondaries, which puts it in the top half of its immediate borough. The picture is more nuanced when you dig into the breakdown: progress in English (-0.22) and maths (-0.35) is notably weaker than the open element (-0.04), suggesting that the school’s strongest relative performance comes from subjects outside the core EBacc suite. For parents comparing options, this is a school that holds its own locally but doesn’t push pupils significantly beyond national expectations.

Academically, the school’s GCSE results show a mixed profile. The Attainment 8 score of 46.3 is solid, and 70% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though that drops to 43.4% at the stronger grade 5 threshold. The EBacc average point score of 4.16 reflects a decent breadth of study, with 59% of pupils entering the EBacc combination and 34.5% achieving a grade 4 or above across all five pillars. At A-level, the story is more encouraging: the school’s value-added score of 0.22 is rated “Above average”, with a points per entry of 34.14 (equivalent to a C+ grade). The best three A-levels average out at a C+ as well, and 7.8% of entries achieved AAB or higher. This suggests that while GCSE progress is slightly below par, the sixth form adds genuine value, making it a stronger bet for students staying on post-16.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 295 places in 2025/26, it received 1,082 applications, a ratio of 3.67 to one, with 284 first-preference offers made from 330 first-preference applications. That level of demand reflects its reputation locally. Facilities are generous for a state school, including a theatre, swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, and playing fields, plus a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports offered range from rowing and martial arts to more traditional football and hockey, while clubs include Model UN, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and a gardening club. SEND provision is broad, covering dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, among others. This is a large, popular comprehensive with a strong sixth form and wide-ranging extracurriculars, best suited to families who value a full-service school environment and are comfortable with its solid but not exceptional GCSE outcomes.

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