Academy converter · Essex

Burnt Mill Academy

11–16Ages
959Pupils
SecondaryPhase
137694URN

First Avenue, Harlow, CM20 2NR · 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

2.3per place

0.5 below Essex median (2.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

486 applications for 209 places · 51st of 78 in Essex

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

47.2of 90

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

31st 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	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good

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

2.3applications per place, Year 7

0.5 below Essex median (2.8) close to England median (2.2)

486 applications · 209 places offered · 173 named it first

2026 2.3; Essex median median 2.8
2025 2.2; Essex median median 2.7
2024 2.5; Essex median median 2.8
2023 2.6; Essex median median 2.7
2022 2.8; Essex median median 2.7
2021 3.1; Essex median median 2.6
2020 2.6; Essex median median 2.8
2019 2.8; Essex median median 2.7
2018 2.5; Essex median median 2.6
2017 3.2; Essex median median 2.7
2016 3.7; Essex median median 2.6
2015 3.4; Essex median median 2.5
2014 3.1; 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	209	486	2.3	173	0.83
Sep 2025	203	451	2.2	159	0.78
Sep 2024	209	514	2.5	177	0.85
Sep 2023	203	519	2.6	183	0.90
Sep 2022	208	583	2.8	203	0.98
Sep 2021	208	647	3.1	244	1.17
Sep 2020	237	626	2.6	213	0.90
Sep 2019	233	659	2.8	240	1.03
Sep 2018	267	669	2.5	260	0.97
Sep 2017	207	658	3.2	234	1.13
Sep 2016	204	745	3.7	290	1.42
Sep 2015	205	701	3.4	306	1.49
Sep 2014	206	643	3.1	270	1.31

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

173 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)47.231st of 79 in Essex

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths49%27th of 79 in Essex

Essex 43% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths65%

Essex 66% England 66%

This school
Essex median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.21

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	173	47.2	49%	65%	–
2024/25	170	45.2	44%	61%	–
2023/24	182	44.6	47%	62%	−0.21
2022/23	223	44.3	43%	66%	−0.19

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

Burnt Mill AcademyThis school
This school

Good2023

2.3applications per place 47.2Attainment 8
Bmat Stem Academy
1.0 km · Essex

Good2023

29.9Attainment 8
St Mark's West Essex Catholic School
1.4 km · Essex

Good2023

2.6applications per place 50.0Attainment 8
Mark Hall Academy
1.6 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.3applications per place 37.8Attainment 8
Sir Frederick Gibberd College
2.0 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.5applications per place 44.7Attainment 8
Passmores Academy
2.4 km · Essex

Remains Good2024

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

Requires improvement2024

1.7applications per place 40.1Attainment 8
Leventhorpe
5.7 km · Hertfordshire

Good2024

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

Special measures Inadequate2022

1.8applications per place 40.1Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137694 · 881/4333
Trust: Bmat Education
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,200 pupils · 959 on roll
Free school meals: 27.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 December 2011
Replaced: Burnt Mill Comprehensive School (URN 115219)
Address: First Avenue, Harlow, CM20 2NR
Local authority: Essex · Harlow

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