Classpot

Woodlands School

Basildon, SS16 5BASecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Nov 2023
Progress 8
-1.59
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
N/A
No data
Ranking
#3,106
of 3,141 nationally

About Woodlands School

ParentView data isn't available for Woodlands School, but the oversubscription ratio tells a clear story about local demand. The school has a capacity of 214 but currently holds 1,492 pupils, which means it is massively oversubscribed — operating at nearly seven times its stated capacity. That figure alone suggests that for many families in Basildon, this is the school their children attend, whether by choice or by default. The headteacher is David Wright, and the school is a mixed, non-religious state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form provision despite being listed as having one. It sits within the Essex local authority and serves a community where 45.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2023, rated it as Requires Improvement overall, though several individual categories — behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision — were all rated Good.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressWoodlands Approach, Woodlands School, Basildon, Basildon, SS16 5BA
HeadteacherDavid Wright
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils1,492
Free School Meals (FSM)45.5%
School Capacity1,492 / 214 (697% full)
Sixth FormYes
Nursery ClassesYes

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

28 Nov 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 18 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Swimming PoolMusic RoomsICT SuiteGymnasiumSports HallTheatreDining HallChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

21

Sports

RugbyCross CountryMartial ArtsBadmintonRowingAthleticsHockeyRoundersFootballSwimming

Clubs & Activities

DebateOrchestraChoirNewspaperDramaModel United NationsScience ClubArt ClubGardeningDuke of EdinburghYoung Enterprise

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

SEND Support

DyslexiaMental HealthLearning DifficultySevere LearningProfound Learning

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:40 – 15:10

Source: woodlandsschool.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Woodlands School

Woodlands 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.