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The James Hornsby School

Basildon, SS15 5NXSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Apr 2026
Progress 8
-0.32
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
245 1st-choice / 205 places
Ranking
#2,296
of 3,141 nationally

About The James Hornsby School

The James Hornsby School is a mixed, 11-16 state secondary in Basildon, Essex, and sits in a local authority that includes some of the highest-performing grammar schools in the country, such as King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, Colchester Royal Grammar School, and Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School. Within this competitive landscape, the school ranks 48th out of 86 same-type schools in Essex, and 5th out of 8 schools in the Basildon area specifically, placing it in the bottom half nationally for Progress 8. It is a significantly oversubscribed school: for 2025/26 entry, there were 799 applications for 205 places, with 245 first-preference applications and 188 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.9. The school has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 46.2%, well above the national average, and its capacity of 900 is exceeded by its current roll of 1,037 pupils.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressLeinster Road, Laindon, Basildon, Basildon, SS15 5NX
HeadteacherTammy Nicholls
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils1,037
Free School Meals (FSM)46.2%
School Capacity1,037 / 900 (115% full)

The full report on this school

What 15 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, 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

6 Oct 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 18 Nov 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
TheatrePlaying FieldsTennis CourtsLibraryMusic RoomsGymnasiumDining HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

FootballRowingSwimmingAthleticsBadmintonRoundersRugby

Clubs & Activities

Book ClubArt ClubDebateModel United NationsChessGardeningOrchestraScience ClubChoir

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

SEND Support

Mental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning Difficulty

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The James Hornsby School

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