Ormiston Rivers Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of ORMISTON ACADEMIES TRUST

Southminster Road, Brownhills, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8QB

01621 782377 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 9 July 2013; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths29%England 45% · 2024/25
66th highest of 79 state secondary schools in Essex.
Higher than 15% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,103Room for 1,050 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,086 in 2019, 1,134 in 2021, 1,140 in 2022, 1,156 in 2023, 1,106 in 2024, 1,077 in 2025, 1,103 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0175 for 176 places, September 2026
30th highest of 79 state secondary schools in Essex.
Higher than 60% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 9 July 2013.

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
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 8 June 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

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

171 pupils in this year group.

29% — 14 points below the Essex average, and 16 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 29% 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. 41.9 45.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.5 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 34%This school 2023/24: 37%This school 2024/25: 29% This school England 45% 2022/23 34% 2023/24 37% 2024/25 29%

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.

211 pupils in this year group.

91% — about the same as the Essex average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 44%34%
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. 91% 92% 92%
School sixth form 44% 37% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 9% 13%
Further education college 34% 38% 37%
Apprenticeship 9% 3% 3%
Work 4% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
95%91%

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

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

48 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Average A level grade C C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 15% 26% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 39% 54% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 31.1 34.7 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 28.0This school 2023/24: 31.4This school 2024/25: 31.1 This school England 35 2022/23 28.0 2023/24 31.4 2024/25 31.1

A level subjects, 2024/25

11 subjects, 104 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Psychology 16 0% 0% 19%
Drama and Theatre Studies 15 0% 7% 19%
Mathematics 15 13% 40% 40%
English Literature 13 15% 23% 23%
Sociology 9 0% 11% 20%
Physics 8 13% 13% 31%
Chemistry 7 14% 29% 30%
Mathematics (Further) 7 14% 14% 59%
Biology 6 0% 0% 27%
History 6 0% 17% 23%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Fine Art).

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

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

80 students in this year group.

85% — 4 points above the Essex average, and 6 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 85% 81% 79%
Apprenticeship 20% 8% 7%
Work 23% 33% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
84%85%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

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

60 students in this year group.

48% — 6 points below the Essex average, and 12 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 48% 54% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 8% 15% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
52%48%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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 about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered176
Families who put it first175
Of those, offered a place175 (100%)
Families who listed it at all244

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0

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
51st highest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex.
Higher than 25% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
18.3% 22.6%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
52nd highest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex.
Higher than 32% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.2% 2.7%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
16th highest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex.
Higher than 71% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
16.6% 12.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
81st highest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex.
Higher than 0% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
0.4% 9.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
66th lowest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex.
Lower than 14% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
11.0% 8.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
67th lowest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex.
Lower than 14% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
32.4% 23.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
66th lowest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex.
Lower than 21% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
32.3 18.4 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
64th lowest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex.
Lower than 21% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.3% 7.5% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils 0.37% 0.18% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 25th highest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex.
Higher than 76% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
18.1 17.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 33rd highest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex.
Higher than 78% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
13.1 12.9 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
14th highest of 81 state secondary schools in Essex.
Higher than 77% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
19.0% 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.

Questions parents ask

What is Ormiston Rivers Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ormiston Rivers Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 9 July 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 8 June 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Ormiston Rivers Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 29% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 16 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Ormiston Rivers Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 175 families put Ormiston Rivers Academy as their first choice for 176 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 175 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.