Our Academy

History 

The Eastwood Academy has a proud and distinctive history serving the children of Southend-on-Sea. Originally established in 1878, the school has educated generations of young people for nearly 150 years.

Similar to all schools we always aims to change and evolve to ensure that we are always in a position to do our very best for the pupils in our care. In 1938, the school’s original building (which is still standing) was extended in a way that - perhaps unintentionally - formed the shape of the letter ‘E’. This subtle architectural feature has become a lasting symbol of our identity and provides a useful link to what we now proudly call “The Eastwood Way”. The same building was damaged in 1944 (the final year of the Second World War in Europe), tragically the then  Head Master lost his life following the explosion of an errant German V2 missile that landed next to the school.

Eastwood Today

Today, The Eastwood Academy is a heavily over-subscribed, vibrant, high-performing secondary school with over 1,100 pupils on roll. We are proud members of the Tenacitas Trust, a partnership of schools tenaciously committed to the values of Nurture, Unite, and Succeed.

Our academic outcomes consistently place us among the top-performing schools nationally, reflecting our rigorous curriculum, high expectations, and the unwavering commitment of our staff and pupils.

Our six core values - Compassion, Courage, Inclusivity, Integrity, Resilience, and Respect — provide the foundation for our ethos. We describe our approach as  “The Eastwood Way”. These six values guide our actions, shape our community, and inspire our pupils to become principled, thoughtful, and ambitious individuals. We do all that we can each day to support your child in becoming the best version of themselves.