CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL

Hall Mead School is a specialist technology college catering for boys and girls from Year 7 to Year 11 It is situated in an established residential area of Upminster, which includes a significant proportion of local authority housing. Employment in the area is high, but experience of higher education is below average.

The proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals is low, as is the proportion of pupils with special educational needs. However, an average proportion is entitled to Statements of Special Educational Need, though the school is leading a pilot scheme for the local authority where parents forego their right to a formal Statement so that resources can be diverted from bureaucracy to direct support. A very small proportion of the low number of pupils from ethnic minority groups use English as an additional language.

Pupils’ attainment on entry is broadly average. Pressure for places at the school is high and pupil mobility is low. Having successfully supported developments in local schools for several years as a Beacon School, Hall Mead is now continuing this work as a Leading Edge School. It also plays a significant part in Graduate Teacher Training, and sees this as an important way of attracting staff in an area where recruitment is difficult.