Question 1

How do I find secondary schools near me?

Accepted Answer

Enter your postcode above to search secondary schools within your chosen radius. Each profile shows Ofsted ratings, GCSE results, Progress 8 scores, and admissions criteria. You can filter by school type, gender, and faith character.

Question 2

How many secondary schools are in England?

Accepted Answer

There are approximately 3,200 state-funded secondary schools in England, educating around 3.3 million pupils. This includes academies, grammar schools, free schools, and community schools, as well as a smaller number of maintained schools run by local authorities.

Question 3

When should I apply for secondary school?

Accepted Answer

Applications for Year 7 entry open in September and close in late October (the national deadline is 31 October). Offers are made on National Offer Day in March. You list up to three preferences through your local authority's admissions portal. Grammar school 11-plus tests usually take place in September.

Question 4

What is Progress 8 and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Progress 8 measures how much progress pupils make between their KS2 SATs (age 11) and GCSE results (age 16), compared to pupils with similar prior attainment across England. A score of 0 means average progress; positive scores mean pupils do better than expected. It's the government's headline accountability measure for secondary schools.

Question 5

What is the difference between an academy and a maintained secondary?

Accepted Answer

Academies are state-funded schools that operate independently of the local authority, with funding received directly from the Department for Education. Maintained schools are funded through the local authority. Both are free to attend and follow the National Curriculum broadly, though academies have more freedom over their curriculum and staffing.

Question 6

Do secondary schools have a catchment area?

Accepted Answer

Most community and maintained secondary schools use a catchment area as a key oversubscription criterion when more pupils apply than there are places. Academies set their own admissions policies, which may include a catchment area or other criteria such as distance, siblings, or faith. Grammar schools select by ability using the 11-plus exam.

Secondary Schools Near Me

What to look for

Progress 8 Score

GCSE Results

Ofsted Rating

Popular locations for secondary schools near me

Hampshire

Essex

Kent

Hertfordshire

Lancashire

Surrey

Birmingham

West Sussex

Staffordshire

Derbyshire

Norfolk

Nottinghamshire

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