The Gateway Academy

About The Gateway Academy

Parents considering The Gateway Academy will find strong signals of satisfaction from those already there. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, 88% of the 72 respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That's a high vote of confidence. The school is also clearly popular: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 456 applications for 205 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.22. Of those, 221 families put it as their first preference, and 189 of those were offered a place. On specific questions, 90% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 91% said the same about feeling safe. The school's leadership and management were rated Good in its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2019, and an ungraded inspection in December 2024 confirmed that standards have been maintained. That marks a clear improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2017, when overall effectiveness was rated Requires Improvement.

Academically, The Gateway Academy delivers solid, if not spectacular, results. Its Progress 8 score of 0.07 is positive, meaning pupils on average achieve slightly more than the national expected level of progress. However, this sits below the Thurrock local authority average of 0.14, placing the school 6th out of 10 secondary schools in the area. The Attainment 8 score of 44.6 is a useful benchmark, and 47.2% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs. Maths is a particular strength: the Progress 8 score for maths alone is 0.34, well above the national average. English is exactly in line with it at 0.00. The school's EBacc entry rate is low at 6%, and only 3% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above, which is something to be aware of if that pathway is important to you. Nationally, the school ranks in the 44th percentile for Progress 8, placing it in the middle of the pack.

The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It is almost at full capacity with 1,033 pupils against a capacity of 1,035. A significant 40.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average, and the school offers a wide range of SEND provisions, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs. The Parent View data on SEND support is mixed: 67% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, but 34% disagreed or strongly disagreed, so it is worth discussing this directly with the school if your child has additional needs. Facilities include a sports hall, astro turf, playing fields, and a library, and there is a good range of clubs from chess and debate to Model UN and Young Enterprise. This is a school that suits families looking for a large, inclusive, improving secondary with strong parent satisfaction and a clear focus on core academic progress, particularly in maths.

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