School Chooser

The Basildon Upper Academy

Secondary · ages 14-19MixedAcademy847 pupilsSixth formBasildonEssex
School Chooser Score
1
Well below
similar schools
Likely range 1 to 2
Out of 100. Better than 2% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, November 2023
Strong pass in English and maths21%England 46%
Attendance79.2%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families46%Far more than most schools
Places553 spare847 pupils, 1,400 places
Pupils per teacher13.7School workforce census

The Basildon Upper Academy is a sponsored academy in Basildon for boys and girls aged 14 to 19. It has 847 pupils and room for 1,400. About 46 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 1 out of 100. That puts it well below schools like it, ahead of 2% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2023.

Wickford Avenue, Pitsea, Basildon, SS13 3HL01268 552536basildonacademies.org.ukMs Rebecca Rees principalAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 8 November 2023, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Requires improvement
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

292 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score28.7
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths21%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths35%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-1.44In each subject, pupils here finished about a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 35.435.420182019: 33.333.320192022: 30.530.520222023: 29.429.420232024: 26.626.620242025: 28.728.72025
Since 2018: -6.7Declining overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018EssexEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11292330257263157166
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 828.726.629.430.533.335.446.046.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-1.44-1.25-1.25-0.62-0.42
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths21%19%23%20%9%17%44%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths35%30%37%41%31%37%65%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score2.622.382.412.472.282.364.064.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry75%78%6%5%2%2%39%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged22.117.922.724.127.031.7
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged34.333.136.036.640.440.8
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers14.516.818.718.422.2
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers44.949.852.150.049.3

Subjects

Results came out for 10 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Subjects that did worse than the England average: French (3% here, 60% across England), History (9% here, 52% across England), Statistics (12% here, 51% across England), Art and Design (23% here, 58% across England).

What is taught here

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics288 entries · 75th of 78 in Essex
26%England 53%
English Language288 entries · 75th of 78 in Essex
25%England 54%
Combined Science277 entries · 56th of 74 in Essex
21%England 36%
Statistics275 entries · 14th of 16 in Essex
12%England 51%
English Literature275 entries · 74th of 78 in Essex
26%England 58%
French273 entries · 51st of 51 in Essex
3%England 60%
Geography173 entries · 71st of 74 in Essex
19%England 51%
Art and Design83 entries · 68th of 76 in Essex
23%England 58%
History81 entries · 77th of 77 in Essex
9%England 52%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics2886%26%44%53%3,075 of 3,211
English Language2886%25%39%54%3,134 of 3,210
Combined Science2775%21%31%36%2,568 of 3,084
Statistics2752%12%30%51%354 of 375
English Literature2758%26%40%58%3,135 of 3,202
French2731%3%4%60%1,973 of 1,974
Geography1735%19%30%51%3,009 of 3,116
Art and Design835%23%36%58%2,655 of 2,818
History811%9%19%52%3,118 of 3,126
Other Modern Languages80%0%0%49%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

145 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeD-16.9 points per entry
A level progress-0.83Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better3%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished78%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students14510893104177183
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry16.9114.1418.8420.5014.7818.27
Average A level gradeD-E+DDE+D-
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS15.0510.0013.8623.1517.5418.93
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects3%0%0%0%0%11%
A level progressA level value added-0.83-0.58-1.05-0.41
Applied general courses: points per entry23.1019.6423.2120.35
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed78%79%76%88%79%94%

A level subjects

11 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsPsychology20Biology15Mathematics14Design and Technology (Engineering)12Chemistry11Accounting and Finance11Fine Art10Sociology10English Literature83D Studies7Physics6
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Psychology20 entries · 5% A* or A · 65% passed
10%England 46%
Biology15 entries · 0% A* or A · 40% passed
7%England 49%
Mathematics14 entries · 14% A* or A · 50% passed
21%England 60%
Design and Technology (Engineering)12 entries · 0% A* or A · 83% passed
17%England 37%
Chemistry11 entries · 9% A* or A · 46% passed
18%England 53%
Accounting and Finance11 entries · 0% A* or A · 55% passed
0%England 37%
Fine Art10 entries · 20% A* or A · 80% passed
50%England 65%
Sociology10 entries · 0% A* or A · 80% passed
10%England 49%
English Literature8 entries · 0% A* or A · 88% passed
25%England 52%
3D Studies7 entries · 14% A* or A · 86% passed
43%England 58%
Physics6 entries · 0% A* or A · 50% passed
0%England 51%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 1 of the 3 gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
22.134.3
Gap 12.2England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
11%29%
Gap 18 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
27.130.5
Gap 3.4England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Open to all. There is no entrance test.

Plenty of spare places902 pupils for 1,400 places, 2024/25
64% full

498 places were empty (36% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have grown by 31% since 2021/22.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Essex council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll847Census January 2026
Places1,40060% full
Pupils from low-income families42%46% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English25%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support15%126 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan2%16 pupils with a plan
Average class size17.442 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils0%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)49%£322,300 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls435 / 412
White British pupils58%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (56), Autistic spectrum disorder (34), Moderate learning difficulty (20), language and communications needs (11), Other difficulty or disability (8), Specific learning difficulty (7).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll847913900781707607
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals42%40%38%39%38%32%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language25%26%29%27%24%25%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support15%10%9%6%9%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans2%2%2%2%3%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 79.2% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance79.2%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school49.9%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils17.32024/25, 1 permanent exclusion
Missed without permission12.8%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence20.8%20.5%16.6%10.8%7.1%6.2%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence8.0%4.3%2.6%2.0%1.0%0.7%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence12.8%16.3%14.1%8.9%6.0%5.5%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence49.9%47.6%45.2%32.1%19.3%15.7%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate17.319.45.95.00.3
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions10010

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 257 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training82%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 75%, compared with 89% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training82%78%84%88%
Education77%69%82%78%
Apprenticeship2%2%0%2%
Work4%7%2%8%
Not in education, work or training11%12%8%8%

After sixth form

Where the 88 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training68%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 66%, compared with 70% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training34%England 72%
Top-third universities4%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship6%England 6%
Higher technical course1%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND
Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training68%68%60%
Education26%32%24%
Apprenticeship6%4%0%1%
Work36%32%36%
Not in education, work or training24%27%33%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers61.7full-time equivalent, 65 people
Pupils per teacher13.7Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers88%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants1.0full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£49,519
Teachers who left in the year45%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher7.12024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£6,409England £7,965. Total £5.9m
Income per pupil£9,094England £8,423. Total £8.3m
Spent on teachers per pupil£2,522England £4,444
Money in reserve18%A healthy amount put by: £1.5m, £1,645 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£2.5mit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£6,409spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m99312 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate193 per 1,000 people112% higher than the England average
Typical house price£360,000Basildon
Nearest bus stop140 mChalvedon School, 18 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
The Basildon Lower AcademyAcademy0.7 miles892Report card 20260Compare
De La Salle SchoolRoman Catholic1.8 miles761Good 202440Compare
Woodlands SchoolAcademy2.1 miles1,513Good 202330Compare
The Appleton SchoolAcademy2.1 miles1,597Not inspected14Compare
The Bromfords SchoolAcademy2.5 miles1,181No overall grade 202420Compare
The James Hornsby SchoolAcademy3.2 miles1,040Report card 202627Compare
Mossbourne Fobbing AcademyAcademy3.4 miles859Report card 2026Compare
Beauchamps High SchoolFoundation3.5 miles1,486No overall grade 202560Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares The Basildon Upper Academy with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats2%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
Near the bottom of its group. Its score of 1 is 18 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 1 · middle 19 · highest 86100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 1 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 1% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 1 to 2. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%well below
-0.35
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 292 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%in line
+0.02
Ofsted grade, 2.8 years old
Progress pupils make20%well below
-0.53
DfE progress measure; 292 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%well below
-0.28
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%well below
-0.23
2024/25; 727 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%well below
-0.19
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 292 pupils
What pupils do next5%well below
-0.09
257 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is The Basildon Upper Academy a good school?

The figures are weak. The Basildon Upper Academy scores 1 out of 100. That is well below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 2% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 1 to 2, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is The Basildon Upper Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated The Basildon Upper Academy good at its last full inspection on 8 November 2023.

How good are The Basildon Upper Academy's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 21% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 28.7, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished about a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does The Basildon Upper Academy have?

847 pupils aged 14 to 19 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,400 places, so it is 61% full.

Is The Basildon Upper Academy oversubscribed?

Probably not. 498 places were empty in 2024/25 (36% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at The Basildon Upper Academy?

Pupils were in school 79.2% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 50% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at The Basildon Upper Academy?

The average class had 17.4 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. No class had more than 30 pupils.

Does The Basildon Upper Academy have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was D-. 11 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Wickford Avenue, Pitsea, Basildon, SS13 3HL
Telephone
01268 552536
Website
www.basildonacademies.org.uk
Principal
Ms Rebecca Rees
Type of school
Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 14-19, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Multi-academy trust
The Basildon Academies (2 schools)
Local authority
Essex
Ward
Pitsea North West
Constituency
South Basildon and East Thurrock
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 September 2009 (new provision)
URN
135897 · LAESTAB 8816909 · UKPRN 10029913
Formerly
Chalvedon School, Barstable School

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from