The Westborough School

Westborough Academy has made significant strides since its previous inspection, moving from a grade of 'Requires Improvement' to 'Good' across all domains except for early years, which has been rated as 'Outstanding'. The school demonstrates a strong commitment to providing a supportive environment that nurtures pupil independence and engagement. The curriculum has been effectively developed, with staff showing a solid understanding of how to present information and support all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). However, some newer leaders are still refining their subject areas, indicating that further development is needed in those aspects.

Strengths

• Strong commitment to pupil independence and engagement.
• Effective curriculum development supported by the trust.
• High aspirations for all pupils, including those with SEND.
• Outstanding early years provision that prepares children well for Year 1.
• Positive reading culture fostered from early years through structured phonics instruction.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum leaders new to their roles are still refining the subjects they lead.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Westborough School attended 94.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 14.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.7% of pupils at The Westborough School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 The Westborough School had 18.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 22.3% of pupils at The Westborough School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 6.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 The Westborough School received £6,999 and spent £6,875 for each of its 436 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £314,000 (£721 per pupil).

Across all 8 schools of South East Essex Academy Trust, income was £7,331 and spending £7,262 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Westcliff-On-Sea · Southend-on-Sea local authority: places and applications

The Westborough School is part of South East Essex Academy Trust, which runs 9 schools. The nearest others:

• Prince Avenue Academy and Nursery Westcliff-On-Sea
• Westcliff High School for Girls Westcliff-On-Sea
• Heycroft Primary School Leigh-On-Sea
• Rochford Primary and Nursery School Rochford
• Holt Farm Junior School Rochford
• Hadleigh Junior School Benfleet
• The Deanes Benfleet
• The Cornelius Vermuyden School Canvey Island

What is The Westborough School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Westborough School is Good, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was The Westborough School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Westborough School was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does The Westborough School have?

The Westborough School has 443 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Westborough School cover?

The Westborough School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are The Westborough School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 53% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is The Westborough School?

The Westborough School is at Macdonald Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 9BS.