William Edwards School
Academy converter in Grays, Thurrock.
School details
| Phase | Secondary |
|---|---|
| Type | Academy converter |
| Age range | 11 to 16 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious character | None |
| Admissions policy | Non-selective |
| Sixth form | Does not have a sixth form |
| Pupils on roll | 984 (school census 15-01-2026) |
| Capacity | 1200 |
| Free school meals | 22.40% |
| Trust or sponsor | SOUTH WEST ESSEX COMMUNITY EDUCATION TRUST LIMITED |
| Local authority | Thurrock |
| Address | Stifford Clays Road, Stifford Clays, Grays, Essex, RM16 3NJ |
| Map | View on Google Maps |
| Website | http://williamedwards.org.uk/ |
| Telephone | 01375486000 |
| URN | 137214 |
Ofsted inspection
Latest full inspection: report card inspection under Ofsted's renewed framework (in use since November 2025), started 10 March 2026, published 9 June 2026. Report cards grade each area separately; there is no single overall grade.
| Safeguarding standards | Met |
|---|---|
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and wellbeing | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Needs attention |
Earlier graded inspection under the previous framework (Education Inspection Framework), started 7 November 2023, published 12 December 2023:
| Overall effectiveness | Requires improvement |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding effective | Yes |
Read the Ofsted reports for this school
Ofsted stopped giving single-word overall effectiveness grades in September 2024 and introduced report cards from November 2025. Older grades are shown with their dates and may not reflect the school today.
Planning for university
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Nearby schools
- The Hathaway Academy (secondary school, about 1.6 km)
- Orsett Heath Academy (secondary school, about 1.6 km)
- Grays Convent High School (secondary school, about 2.3 km)
- Thames Park Secondary School (secondary school, about 3.3 km)
- Harris Academy Chafford Hundred (secondary school, about 3.7 km)
- The Gateway Academy (secondary school, about 3.7 km)
- Harris Academy Ockendon (secondary school, about 4.0 km)
- Park Academy (secondary school, about 5.4 km)
Browse: Secondary schools in Thurrock
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. School data: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (downloaded 11 October 2026). Inspection data: Ofsted, state-funded schools inspections and outcomes management information (as at 31 August 2026). Last updated 2026-10-11.