Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #30 in Essex public Top 22% UK

Alec Hunter Academy

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

personMr Trevor Lawn

corporate_fareSAFFRON ACADEMY TRUST

location_onBraintree, CM7 3NR

language Visit Website phone 1376321813

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

1,029

trending_up

Attainment 8

45.7

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#33 in Essex

#1,615 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Alec Hunter Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Braintree, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.2×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Alec Hunter Academy is an academy sponsor led in Braintree, Essex, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of SAFFRON ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 1,067 pupils on roll, of whom 20% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 45.7, placing the school #33 in Essex and #1,615 of 3,216 nationally. 48.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 13.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.2× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 2.2 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

45.7

Grade 5+ E&M

48.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)13.9%

Entering EBacc51.40%

EBacc APS4.13

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.1

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc38.50%

EBacc APS4.09

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.16

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc38%

EBacc APS3.95

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20%

EBacc APS3.95

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc38%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.13

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc35%

EBacc APS3.89

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.4

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39%

EBacc APS3.83

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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

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment10%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 November 2022

Inspection Report

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06 October 2020

Inspection Report

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13 July 2017

Inspection Report

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11 June 2015

Inspection Report

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18 March 2015

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2017-07-13

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2015-03-18

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

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

2.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.7%(18 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,067 pupils. During this period, there were 29 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.7%, 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)	1,067	29	2.7%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,071	19	1.8%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,049	31	3.0%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,058	42	4.0%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,067	35	3.3%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,026	44	4.3%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,029	48	4.7%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,032	61	5.9%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	980	66	6.7%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	982	61	6.2%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	984	55	5.6%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	910	34	3.7%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	910	6	0.7%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	909	34	3.7%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	848	2	0.2%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	848	36	4.2%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	851	34	4.0%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	792	53	6.7%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	783	35	4.5%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	789	43	5.4%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	767	62	8.1%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	775	34	4.4%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	777	40	5.1%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	828	40	4.8%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	833	14	1.7%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	843	44	5.2%	3.1%	0

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

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psychology_alt

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.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 63 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 48 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 45 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 14 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 13 pupils

Hearing Impairment 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 4 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 3 pupils

health_and_safety

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.

92.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93.0%Positive

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

25.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree46%

agree43%

disagree6%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree39%

agree45%

disagree13%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree48%

agree17%

disagree6%

strongly disagree3%

not applicable26%

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

yes20%

no80%

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

strongly agree51%

agree34%

disagree6%

strongly disagree6%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree62%

agree31%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree57%

agree35%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree51%

agree40%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree61%

agree36%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree67%

agree29%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree43%

agree40%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes92%

no8%

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)

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.

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