Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular emoji_events #26 in Essex public Top 19% UK

Debden Park High School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personDr Andrew Hogan

corporate_fareTHE KEMNAL ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onLoughton, IG10 2BQ

language Visit Website phone 2085082979

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

1,053

trending_up

Attainment 8

48.3

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GCSE Rank

#22 in Essex

#1,171 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Debden Park High School is a Academy converter secondary school in Loughton, serving ages 11-18. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.3×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Debden Park High School is an academy converter in Loughton, Essex, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of THE KEMNAL ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 1,050 pupils on roll, of whom 27% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 48.3, placing the school #22 in Essex and #1,171 of 3,216 nationally. 50.30% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 21.1% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 16 A-level subjects. 43.9% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 15.2% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.09 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.3× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 3.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

48.3

Grade 5+ E&M

50.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)21.1%

Entering EBacc17.30%

EBacc APS4.06

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.02

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc21.80%

EBacc APS4.08

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc15%

EBacc APS3.62

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.11

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc8%

EBacc APS4.03

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc22%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc15%

EBacc APS3.84

2018

Progress 8 Score

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23%

EBacc APS3.99

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.09

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*5.3%

Achieving A*–A15.2%

Achieving A*–B43.9%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate97.5%

A-level subjects offered16

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.17

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate91.50%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate100.00%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate92.4%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

25 March 2025

Inspection Report

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18 October 2023

Inspection Report

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17 January 2017

Inspection Report

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01 May 2013

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2025-03-25

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2017-01-17

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2013-05-01

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

3.3%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.6%(27 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,050 pupils. During this period, there were 35 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.3%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,050	35	3.3%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,049	44	4.2%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,061	31	2.9%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,065	44	4.1%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,066	25	2.3%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,046	27	2.6%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,053	28	2.7%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,053	25	2.4%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,036	20	1.9%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,044	22	2.1%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,051	17	1.6%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,067	25	2.3%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,069	2	0.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,075	26	2.4%	3.9%	2
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,057	2	0.2%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,057	5	0.5%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,060	9	0.8%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,030	14	1.4%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,027	7	0.7%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,034	6	0.6%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,015	2	0.2%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,016	6	0.6%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,019	3	0.3%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	970	2	0.2%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	970	3	0.3%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	965	5	0.5%	3.1%	1

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 111 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 44 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 24 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 20 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 12 pupils

Physical Disability 10 pupils

Hearing Impairment 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

85.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

90.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

45.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree55%

agree30%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree45%

agree40%

disagree10%

strongly disagree5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree60%

agree20%

strongly disagree5%

not applicable15%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree65%

agree30%

strongly disagree5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree60%

agree30%

disagree10%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree50%

agree30%

disagree15%

strongly disagree5%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree70%

agree20%

disagree10%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree75%

agree20%

strongly disagree5%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree55%

agree30%

disagree5%

strongly disagree10%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes90%

no10%

Top Secondary Schools in Essex

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

Outstanding

location_on Chelmsford, CM1 3SX

emoji_events #1 in LA

Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Outstanding

location_on Chelmsford, CM1 1RW

emoji_events #2 in LA

Colchester Royal Grammar School

Inadequate

location_on Colchester, CO3 3ND

emoji_events #3 in LA

Colchester County High School for Girls

Outstanding

location_on Colchester, CO3 3US

emoji_events #4 in LA

Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School

Good

location_on Brentwood, CM14 4EX

emoji_events #5 in LA

Saffron Walden County High School

Outstanding

location_on Saffron Walden, CB11 4UH

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Essex arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Essex

King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Colchester Royal Grammar School

Colchester County High School for Girls

Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School

Saffron Walden County High School