The Appleton School food hygiene rating
School/college/university · Castle Point
The Appleton School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 13 January 2026, 5 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Appleton School, Croft Road, South Benfleet, SS7 5RN
How it compares in Castle Point
That puts The Appleton School among the 452 places in Castle Point holding top marks, 92% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 452 | 92% | ← The Appleton School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 27 | 5% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 3 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 45 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At The Appleton School none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Appleton School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosy Cafe And Creams Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 407 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2024 |
| Aspera Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 407 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 January 2025 |
| B B Grout Ltd Retailers - other | 407 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 August 2025 |
| Cakes Away Other catering premises | 423 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2025 |
| Arundel Food And Wine Store Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 December 2025 |
| Arundel News Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 February 2024 |
| Arundel Pharmacy Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2025 |
| Cosmos Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 August 2025 |
Questions about The Appleton School
What is The Appleton School's food hygiene rating?
The Appleton School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Castle Point Council on 13 January 2026.
Is The Appleton School safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Appleton School last inspected?
The Appleton School was last inspected on 13 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Castle Point Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Appleton School?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Appleton School compare to other places in Castle Point?
92% of the 491 rated food businesses in Castle Point hold the top rating of 5, and The Appleton School is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Castle Point Council inspects The Appleton School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch The Appleton School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Appleton School is one of 242 rated food businesses in Benfleet. See every hygiene rating in Benfleet →
Castle Point inspects and rates 536 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Castle Point →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.castlepoint.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →