How many schools are in Southend-on-Sea?

Southend-on-Sea has 60 open schools — 33 primary schools and 12 secondary schools across 6 areas. Data sourced from the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools (GIAS) register.

What areas are covered by Southend-on-Sea school catchment zones?

Southend-on-Sea administers catchment areas across 6 areas, including Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea, Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-On-Sea, Other and more. Each school's catchment boundary is set by the local authority and reviewed annually as part of the admissions process.

How do school catchment areas work in Southend-on-Sea?

In Southend-on-Sea, catchment areas define a geographical zone around each school. Children living within the catchment boundary are given priority in oversubscription criteria. The exact boundary — and the "last distance offered" — changes each year based on application volumes. Official catchment maps and admissions policies are published by Southend-on-Sea council each autumn.

Which schools in Southend-on-Sea are oversubscribed?

Oversubscription varies by school and year in Southend-on-Sea. Popular schools typically receive more applications than available places, meaning the "last distance offered" shrinks annually. To check demand for a specific school, consult the Southend-on-Sea admissions authority's published offer data or the school's own admissions policy.

Southend-on-Sea School Catchment Areas

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Southend-on-Sea has 60 schools — 33 primary and 12 secondary — spread across its towns and areas.

The largest concentrations sit around Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea and Westcliff-on-Sea, which together account for a meaningful share of the council's pupil places.

Selective schools are part of the mix in Southend-on-Sea — for those applying to grammar schools, a selective admissions test is required in addition to the standard admissions process.

60 total 33 primary 12 secondary 6 areas

Southend-on-Sea Catchment Area Documents

Official admissions policies and catchment boundary maps for Southend-on-Sea schools are published annually.

Find admissions documents →

Schools in Southend-on-Sea

25 schools

St Mary's, Prittlewell, CofE Primary School

Primary · Voluntary aided school

Southend-on-Sea · SS2 6JH

Ages 4–11 647 pupils Capacity 610

Alleyn Court Preparatory School

Not applicable · Other independent school

Southend-on-Sea · SS3 0PW

Ages 2–11 244 pupils Capacity 345

South Essex College of Further and Higher Education

All through · Further education

Southend-on-Sea · SS1 1ND

Ages 16–99

Southend High School for Boys

Secondary · Academy converter

Southend-on-Sea · SS0 0RG

Ages 11–18 1325 pupils Capacity 1060

Southend High School for Girls

Secondary · Academy converter

Southend-on-Sea · SS2 4UZ

Ages 11–18 1253 pupils Capacity 1269

Shoeburyness High School

Secondary · Academy converter

Southend-on-Sea · SS3 9LL

Ages 11–18 1747 pupils Capacity 1770

Southend YMCA Community School

Not applicable · Free schools alternative provision

Southend-on-Sea · SS2 6LH

Ages 14–18 22 pupils Capacity 65

Porters Grange Primary School and Nursery

Primary · Academy sponsor led

Southend-on-Sea · SS1 2NS

Ages 3–11 435 pupils Capacity 420

Hinguar Community Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Southend-on-Sea · SS3 9FE

Ages 2–11 274 pupils Capacity 256

Friars Primary School and Nursery

Primary · Academy converter

Southend-on-Sea · SS3 9XX

Ages 3–11 427 pupils Capacity 472

Hamstel Junior School

Primary · Academy converter

Southend-on-Sea · SS2 4PQ

Ages 7–11 586 pupils Capacity 600

Thorpedene Primary School & Nursery

Primary · Academy converter

Southend-on-Sea · SS3 9NP

Ages 2–11 500 pupils Capacity 630

Showing 12 of 25. View all schools in Southend-on-Sea →

Schools in Leigh-on-Sea

16 schools

Chalkwell Hall Infant School

Primary · Community school

Leigh-on-Sea · SS9 3NL

Ages 3–7 299 pupils Capacity 270

Leigh North Street Primary School

Primary · Community school

Leigh-on-Sea · SS9 1QE

Ages 5–11 622 pupils Capacity 630

West Leigh Infant School

Primary · Community school

Leigh-on-Sea · SS9 2JB

Ages 4–7 358 pupils Capacity 360

Fairways Primary School

Primary · Community school

Leigh-on-Sea · SS9 4QW

Ages 4–11 412 pupils Capacity 420

Saint Pierre School

Not applicable · Other independent school

Leigh-on-Sea · SS9 1LE

Ages 2–11 113 pupils Capacity 152

Estuary High School

Not applicable · Other independent special school

Leigh-on-Sea · SS9 3NH

Ages 13–18 6 pupils Capacity 10

The Eastwood Academy

Secondary · Academy converter

Leigh-on-Sea · SS9 5UU

Ages 11–16 1143 pupils Capacity 970

The St Christopher School

Not applicable · Academy special converter

Leigh-on-Sea · SS9 4AW

Ages 3–19 262 pupils Capacity 191

Belfairs Academy

Secondary · Academy converter

Leigh-on-Sea · SS9 3TG

Ages 11–18 1606 pupils Capacity 1440

Darlinghurst Academy

Primary · Academy converter

Leigh-on-Sea · SS9 3JS

Ages 3–11 550 pupils Capacity 630

West Leigh Junior School

Primary · Academy converter

Leigh-on-Sea · SS9 2JB

Ages 7–11 528 pupils Capacity 512

Blenheim Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Leigh-on-Sea · SS9 4HX

Ages 3–11 651 pupils Capacity 657

Showing 12 of 16. View all schools in Leigh-on-Sea →

Schools in Westcliff-on-Sea

13 schools

Earls Hall Primary School

Primary · Community school

Westcliff-on-Sea · SS0 0QN

Ages 4–11 635 pupils Capacity 630

Milton Hall Primary School and Nursery

Primary · Foundation school

Westcliff-on-Sea · SS0 7AU

Ages 3–11 704 pupils Capacity 659

Westcliff High School for Boys Academy

Secondary · Academy converter

Westcliff-on-Sea · SS0 0BP

Ages 11–18 1292 pupils Capacity 1300

Westcliff High School for Girls

Secondary · Academy converter

Westcliff-on-Sea · SS0 0BS

Ages 11–18 1342 pupils Capacity 1224

St Thomas More High School

Secondary · Academy converter

Westcliff-on-Sea · SS0 0BW

Ages 11–18 1206 pupils Capacity 1050

St Bernard's High School

Secondary · Academy converter

Westcliff-on-Sea · SS0 7JS

Ages 11–18 1021 pupils Capacity 1030

Prince Avenue Academy and Nursery

Primary · Academy sponsor led

Westcliff-on-Sea · SS0 0LG

Ages 2–11 503 pupils Capacity 420

Chase High School

Secondary · Academy sponsor led

Westcliff-on-Sea · SS0 0RT

Ages 11–18 1321 pupils Capacity 1340

Lancaster School

Not applicable · Academy special converter

Westcliff-on-Sea · SS0 0RT

Ages 14–19 131 pupils Capacity 106

The Westborough School

Primary · Academy converter

Westcliff-on-Sea · SS0 9BS

Ages 3–11 451 pupils Capacity 472

St Helen's Catholic Primary School

Primary · Academy converter

Westcliff-on-Sea · SS0 7AY

Ages 4–11 419 pupils Capacity 420

Compass Community School Boleyn Park

Not applicable · Other independent special school

Westcliff-on-Sea · SS0 7PU

Ages 8–18 5 pupils Capacity 24

Showing 12 of 13. View all schools in Westcliff-on-Sea →

Schools in Southend-On-Sea

3 schools

Victory Park Academy

Not applicable · Academy alternative provision sponsor led

Southend-On-Sea · SS2 5LG

Ages 5–16 56 pupils Capacity 101

Sutton House Academy

Not applicable · Academy special sponsor led

Southend-On-Sea · SS2 5LG

Ages 5–16 83 pupils Capacity 65

Southchurch High School

Secondary · Academy sponsor led

Southend-On-Sea · SS2 4XA

Ages 11–16 805 pupils Capacity 840

Schools in Other

2 schools

St. Michael's School

Not applicable · Other independent school

· SS9 2LP

Ages 2–11 211 pupils Capacity 310

Thorpe Hall School

Not applicable · Other independent school

· SS1 3RD

Ages 2–16 552 pupils Capacity 650

Schools in LEIGH-on-SEA

1 school

Heycroft Primary School

Primary · Academy sponsor led

LEIGH-on-SEA · SS9 5SJ

Ages 4–11 386 pupils Capacity 420