The King John School
105%
Capacity
2,108
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About The King John School
The King John School in Castle Point has turned a corner academically, with its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 awarding a Good rating across the board — a significant improvement from the Inadequate grade it received in 2019. The school’s Progress 8 score of 0.19 is the most telling exam metric here: it means pupils achieve nearly a fifth of a grade higher per subject than the national average, and it sits well above the Essex local authority average of -0.18. This score places the school in the ‘Above average’ banding nationally, and within Castle Point it ranks first among the two state secondaries. The Attainment 8 score of 51.3 confirms that the average pupil leaves with the equivalent of a strong pass in five GCSEs, while 78.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school’s EBacc average point score of 4.57 and an EBacc entry rate of 58% suggest a solid academic core, though only 23.5% of pupils entered the full EBacc combination at grade 5 or above.
At sixth form, the school continues to perform reliably. With 200 pupils in the cohort, the value-added score of 0.05 is in line with expectations, and the average points per entry of 34.38 translates to a grade of C+. The best three A-levels average out at C+, and 8.9% of entries achieved AAB or higher. The sixth form provision was also rated Good by Ofsted, and the school has a dedicated Sixth Form Centre among its facilities. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 90% of respondents would recommend the school, and 90% strongly agreed that the school has high expectations for their child. In the Parent View survey, 85% strongly agreed their child is happy, and 80% strongly agreed their child does well. The school also scores highly on communication — 80% strongly agreed they are kept informed of their child’s progress.
The King John School is heavily oversubscribed: for 346 places in 2025/26, it received 1,021 applications, with 399 first-preference applications and 319 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of nearly 3:1. This suggests strong local demand. The school caters for a mixed cohort, with 14.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, and it offers a wide range of SEND provisions, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Facilities include science labs, a theatre, sports hall, astro turf, and playing fields, with clubs ranging from DofE and orchestra to gardening and film club. Sports on offer include gymnastics, rugby, swimming, and dance. For families in Castle Point and the wider Essex area, this is a large, popular secondary with a strong academic track record, a well-regarded sixth form, and a clear trajectory of improvement.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Shipwrights Drive, Benfleet, Castle Point, SS7 1RQ |
| Headteacher | Daniel Steel |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 2,108 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 14.7% |
| School Capacity | 2,108 / 2,000 (105% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Jul 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Sept 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.19)
1110th of 3,141
Nationally
117th of 350
In East of England
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more 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
40.2
'22/23
34.3
'23/24
34.4
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
2022/2353%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 331 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)53%
- FE college34%
- Employment5%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Not sustained3%
96% 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
2022/2345%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 218 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
11%
Russell Group
15%
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)45%
- Employment28%
- Apprenticeship11%
- Not sustained11%
- Further education1%
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- Business Studies:Single60
- Psychology49
- Sociology43
- English Literature31
- Law29
- Mathematics28
- Biology24
- Physical Education / Sports Studies19
- Economics17
- Geography14
- Physics14
- History12
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.
Ofsted Parent View
20 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed346
1,021
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
399 families put this school as their 1st choice (39% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:35 – 15:00
Source: thekjs.essex.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British76.9%
- Mixed4.0%
- Black4.0%
- Asian2.5%
- White (other)2.2%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half 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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
7
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About The King John School
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
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Shipwrights Drive, Benfleet
Castle Point, SS7 1RQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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