Academy converter · Essex

St Mark's West Essex Catholic School

11–18Ages
1,099Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
Sixth formAges 16–18
137058URN

Tripton Road, Harlow, CM18 6AA · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Feb 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.6per place

0.2 below Essex median (2.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

473 applications for 180 places · 44th of 78 in Essex

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

50.0of 90

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

17th of 79 in Essex

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 22 February 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education	Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Good
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management	Good
Sixth form provision		Requires improvement

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.6applications per place, Year 7

0.2 below Essex median (2.8) 0.4 above England median (2.2)

473 applications · 180 places offered · 197 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.6; Essex median median 2.8
2025 2.7; Essex median median 2.7
2024 2.7; Essex median median 2.8
2023 2.5; Essex median median 2.7
2022 2.5; Essex median median 2.7
2021 2.4; Essex median median 2.6
2020 3.0; Essex median median 2.8
2019 2.9; Essex median median 2.7
2018 2.7; Essex median median 2.6
2017 2.5; Essex median median 2.7
2016 2.5; Essex median median 2.6
2015 2.2; Essex median median 2.5
2014 2.2; Essex median median 2.6

This school
Essex median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	180	473	2.6	197	1.09
Sep 2025	179	486	2.7	200	1.12
Sep 2024	180	492	2.7	188	1.04
Sep 2023	171	431	2.5	169	0.99
Sep 2022	170	423	2.5	148	0.87
Sep 2021	171	410	2.4	148	0.87
Sep 2020	168	502	3.0	178	1.06
Sep 2019	170	494	2.9	191	1.12
Sep 2018	171	456	2.7	138	0.81
Sep 2017	166	413	2.5	122	0.73
Sep 2016	166	406	2.5	105	0.63
Sep 2015	172	376	2.2	118	0.69
Sep 2014	160	348	2.2	88	0.55

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

174 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)50.017th of 79 in Essex

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths48%29th of 79 in Essex

Essex 43% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths71%

Essex 66% England 66%

This school
Essex median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.04

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	174	50.0	48%	71%	–
2024/25	170	46.3	39%	61%	–
2023/24	172	45.7	42%	62%	−0.04
2022/23	167	48.4	43%	64%	+0.05

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St Mark's West Essex Catholic SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.6applications per place 50.0Attainment 8
Bmat Stem Academy
0.6 km · Essex

Good2023

29.9Attainment 8
Sir Frederick Gibberd College
0.7 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.5applications per place 44.7Attainment 8
Burnt Mill Academy
1.4 km · Essex

Good2023

2.3applications per place 47.2Attainment 8
Passmores Academy
1.6 km · Essex

Remains Good2024

2.6applications per place 36.2Attainment 8
Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow
1.7 km · Essex

Requires improvement2024

1.7applications per place 40.1Attainment 8
Mark Hall Academy
2.5 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.3applications per place 37.8Attainment 8
Leventhorpe
7.0 km · Hertfordshire

Good2024

2.8applications per place 47.1Attainment 8
The John Warner School
7.4 km · Hertfordshire

Special measures Inadequate2022

1.8applications per place 40.1Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137058 · 881/5458
Trust: St. Mark's West Essex Catholic School
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 1,120 pupils · 1,099 on roll
Free school meals: 21.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 August 2011
Replaced: St Mark's West Essex Catholic School (URN 115374)
Address: Tripton Road, Harlow, CM18 6AA
Local authority: Essex · Harlow

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources