SchoolScoresIndependent school guide

Burnt Mill Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of BMAT EDUCATION

First Avenue, Harlow, CM20 2NR

01279 300555 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 22 February 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths44%England 45% · 2024/25
Pupils959Room for 1,200
First-choice applications per place0.8173 for 209 places, September 2026

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 22 February 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

170 pupils in this year group.

44% — about the same as the Essex average, and 1 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 44% 43% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 45.2 45.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.1 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 43%This school 2023/24: 47%This school 2024/25: 44% This school England 45% 2022/23 43% 2023/24 47% 2024/25 44%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

223 pupils in this year group.

92% — about the same as the Essex average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 29%57%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 92% 92% 92%
School sixth form 29% 37% 34%
Sixth form college 1% 9% 13%
Further education college 57% 38% 37%
Apprenticeship 1% 3% 3%
Work 4% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%92%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Essex. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered209
Families who put it first173
Of those, offered a place173 (100%)
Families who listed it at all486

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.8

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Essex

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolEssexEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
 31.3% 22.6%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
 1.1% 2.7%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
 14.5% 12.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
 17.9% 9.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
 8.6% 8.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
 23.1% 23.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
 53.1 18.4 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
 23.8% 7.5% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.18% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
 13.4 17.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
 10.3 12.9 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
 15.4% 13.3%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Burnt Mill Academy's Ofsted rating?

Burnt Mill Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 22 February 2023.

How did Burnt Mill Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 44% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 1 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Burnt Mill Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 173 families put Burnt Mill Academy as their first choice for 209 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 173 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.