Saffron Walden County High School

About Saffron Walden County High School

Saffron Walden County High School is an academy converter in Saffron Walden, Essex, England, for pupils aged 11–18. It has 2,119 pupils on roll. It is part of SAFFRON ACADEMY TRUST. Its most recent Ofsted inspection (26 March 2024) rated it Outstanding. At GCSE, pupils achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 55.8 (2025/26). 8.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 6.1% have English as an additional language.

School Information

Local Authority

Essex →

School Type

Academy converter

Phase

Secondary

Age Range

Ages 11–18

Gender

Mixed

Pupils / Capacity

2,119 / 2,050 (103%) · over capacity

Sixth Form

Has a sixth form

Religious Character

None

Admissions Policy

Non-selective

Last Ofsted Inspection

26 March 2024

Who attends this school — useful context if you’re considering teaching here.

Source: DfE School Census, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Official Department for Education results, pupil destinations and attendance.

Progress 8 isn’t published for this year group: their Key Stage 2 baseline (2021 SATs) was cancelled during the pandemic, so a progress measure can’t be calculated. GCSE figures are provisional and may be revised.

Source: Department for Education performance tables, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Some independent schools’ qualifications (e.g. IGCSEs) are not all reflected in these figures.

Staffing at this school, with the trend over recent years — useful if you’re considering working here.

Data for the 2024/25 academic year (trend lines show 3 years). Source: DfE School Workforce Census, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. State-funded schools only.

How this school is funded and where the money goes — per pupil.

Source: DfE school finance returns (CFR for council-maintained schools, AAR for academies), 2024-25, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Per-pupil figures are calculated from total income/expenditure.

Contact Details

Address

Audley End Road, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4UH

Phone

01799513030

Headteacher

Polly Lankester

Website

http://www.swchs.net/

Academy Trust

Frequently asked questions

What type of school is Saffron Walden County High School?

Saffron Walden County High School is an academy converter in Saffron Walden, Essex, England, for pupils aged 11–18.

How many pupils does Saffron Walden County High School have?

Saffron Walden County High School has 2,119 pupils on roll, according to Department for Education data.

What is Saffron Walden County High School's Ofsted rating?

Saffron Walden County High School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection (26 March 2024).

How does Saffron Walden County High School perform at GCSE?

Pupils at Saffron Walden County High School achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 55.8 in 2025/26.

Is Saffron Walden County High School part of an academy trust?

Yes — Saffron Walden County High School is part of SAFFRON ACADEMY TRUST.

Where is Saffron Walden County High School?

Saffron Walden County High School is located at Audley End Road, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4UH.