School profile

The Boswells School

Secondary · Academy converter · Chelmsford, CM1 6LY

Good

Map showing The Boswells School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,112 of 3,312

Better than 66% of schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#625 of 2,536

Better than 75% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Boswells School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 24 Apr 2013

Ofsted rating
Good
Leadership and management
Good

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,423
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Stephen Mansell
TrustTHE CHELMSFORD LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
Local authorityEssex
Opened01 Feb 2012
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 137874.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.49.1, better than England, better than Essex45.346.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.71.1%, better than England, better than Essex63.2%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.46.9%, similar to England, similar to Essex44.2%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.14.6%, similar to England, similar to Essex12.9%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths66.9%, better than England, better than Essex58.5%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4239--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.38.05, better than England, better than Essex34.6835
Average A-level gradeB---
Average points, best three A-levels37.21, similar to England, similar to Essex35.8235.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsB---
AAB or better10.5%, worse than England, worse than Essex17.6%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0.18, better than England--
A-level progressAbove average, better than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study108--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Dist--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils1,423
Girls704
Boys719
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.14.7%
First language not English11.5%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,431
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.0.6%
Sixth form places2024/25255
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.135
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.37
Average class size22.3

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
74.6%
Other White
5.1%
African
4.3%
Indian
3.2%
White and Black Caribbean
1.5%
Chinese
1.5%
Other Asian
1.4%
Other mixed
1.3%
White and Asian
1.2%
Other ethnic group
1.2%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher18.3
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.14.4
Teachers (FTE)77.71
Teaching assistants (FTE)10.81
Support staff (FTE)34.98
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2582
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2572.6
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/252.6
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/256.8

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.241
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.860
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.247
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.195
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)3

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Overall absence6.2%, better than England, better than Essex8.2%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.15.1%, better than England, better than Essex21.4%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.2%, better than England, better than Essex4%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate11.4%
Pupils with one or more suspensions5.1%
Permanent exclusion rate0.2%
Permanent exclusions3

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.86.8%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.80.2%
School sixth form42%
Further education36.2%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.7.8%
Apprenticeship4.9%
Sixth form college2.1%
Employment1.6%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.92.4%
Higher education57.3%
Employment22.9%
Apprenticeship9.9%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.4.6%
Further education2.3%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Boswells School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.1 miPrimaryPerryfields Junior SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
0.1 miPrimaryPerryfields Infant SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.2 miPrimaryThe Tyrrells SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.4 miPrimarySpringfield Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.4 miPrimaryThe Bishops' Church of England and Roman Catholic Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
0.4 miNot applicableChelmsford Hospital SchoolOther independent school
Outstanding
0.8 miAll-throughThe Beaulieu Park SchoolFree schools
Outstanding
1.0 miPrimaryTrinity Road Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.1 miPrimaryBarnes Farm Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.1 miSecondaryChelmsford County High School for GirlsAcademy converter
Outstanding

Frequently asked questions about The Boswells School

What is The Boswells School's Ofsted rating?

The Boswells School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 24 Apr 2013.

How does The Boswells School rank in England?

The Boswells School ranks 1,112 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (better than 66% of schools) and 625 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (better than 75% of schools).

What are The Boswells School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 46.9% of pupils at The Boswells School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 49.1 (England 46.2).

What are The Boswells School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at The Boswells School was B-, and 10.5% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into The Boswells School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, The Boswells School made 241 offers from 860 applications (3.6 per offer), and 195 of 247 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Boswells School?

The Boswells School has 1,423 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of The Boswells School?

The Boswells School had 1,431 school places in 2024/25.

Does The Boswells School have a sixth form?

Yes, The Boswells School has a sixth form with 255 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Boswells School?

At The Boswells School, the average class had 22.3 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 18.3 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Boswells School?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Boswells School missed 6.2% of sessions (England 8%), and 15.1% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.