Classpot

The Sandon School

Chelmsford, CM2 7AQSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Mar 2024
Progress 8
+0.15
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
158 1st-choice / 211 places
Ranking
#1,210
of 3,141 nationally

About The Sandon School

The Sandon School sits within the Essex local authority, a large county with 86 secondary schools, and ranks 17th among them by Progress 8 score. In the Chelmsford area specifically, it places 6th out of 12 schools. Its Progress 8 score of +0.15 places it well above the Essex average of -0.18, though it sits some distance behind the top-performing grammar and selective schools in the region — King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford (score 1.11), Colchester Royal Grammar School (1.09), and Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School (1.01) are the three highest-ranked peers nearby. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary with a sixth form, led by headteacher Andrew Weaver, and it serves 1,231 pupils against a capacity of 1,253. Just over 15% of students are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average and gives some context to the school's intake.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressMolrams Lane, Chelmsford, Chelmsford, CM2 7AQ
HeadteacherAndrew Weaver
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils1,231
Free School Meals (FSM)15.5%
School Capacity1,231 / 1,253 (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

19 Mar 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Sixth Form Provision
Requires improvement

Source: Ofsted, 12 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
ICT SuitePlaying FieldsTennis CourtsSports HallScience LabsMusic RoomsGymnasiumSwimming PoolDining HallSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

20

Sports

SwimmingRugbyCross CountryTennisFootballMartial ArtsRoundersBadmintonGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

DramaScience ClubChoirChessDuke of EdinburghModel United NationsCodingNewspaperEco ClubYoung EnterpriseDebate

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning DifficultyOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:25 – 14:55

Source: sandon.essex.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Sandon School

The Sandon School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.