Academy converter · Essex

Helena Romanes School

4–18Ages
1,265Pupils
All-throughPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137975URN

Parsonage Downs, Great Dunmow, CM6 2AU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.8per place

1.1 below Essex median (2.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

355 applications for 199 places · 62nd of 78 in Essex

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

44.0of 90

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

46th of 79 in Essex

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 10 October 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
Early years provision		Good
Sixth form provision		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

1.8applications per place, Year 7

1.1 below Essex median (2.8) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

355 applications · 199 places offered · 142 named it first

2026 1.8; Essex median median 2.8
2025 1.9; Essex median median 2.7
2024 1.6; Essex median median 2.8
2023 1.7; Essex median median 2.7
2022 1.8; Essex median median 2.7
2021 1.6; Essex median median 2.6
2020 1.8; Essex median median 2.8
2019 2.0; Essex median median 2.7
2018 1.8; Essex median median 2.6
2017 2.1; Essex median median 2.7
2016 2.2; Essex median median 2.6
2015 2.0; Essex median median 2.5
2014 1.9; Essex median median 2.6

More applications per place than the Essex median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Essex median

Reception entry, September 2026: 4.1 per place (70 applications for 17 places).

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

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, 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	199	355	1.8	142	0.71
Sep 2025	196	362	1.9	165	0.84
Sep 2024	189	302	1.6	151	0.80
Sep 2023	212	360	1.7	175	0.83
Sep 2022	234	415	1.8	173	0.74
Sep 2021	270	423	1.6	194	0.72
Sep 2020	216	398	1.8	192	0.89
Sep 2019	194	396	2.0	154	0.79
Sep 2018	234	431	1.8	183	0.78
Sep 2017	232	477	2.1	199	0.86
Sep 2016	230	502	2.2	166	0.72
Sep 2015	237	477	2.0	185	0.78
Sep 2014	234	440	1.9	178	0.76

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

243 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)44.046th of 79 in Essex

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths42%45th of 79 in Essex

Essex 43% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths68%

Essex 66% England 66%

This school
Essex median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.38

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	243	44.0	42%	68%	–
2024/25	212	46.6	50%	70%	–
2023/24	177	42.1	35%	64%	−0.38
2022/23	226	45.1	46%	69%	−0.30

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

Helena Romanes SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

1.8applications per place 44.0Attainment 8
Forest Hall School
10.2 km · Essex

2026

2.8applications per place 42.8Attainment 8
Birchwood High School
11.9 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.5applications per place 45.5Attainment 8
Hockerill Anglo-European College
12.7 km · Hertfordshire

Good2022

11.5applications per place 62.3Attainment 8
The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College
12.7 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2023

2.9applications per place 62.0Attainment 8
Tabor Academy
12.8 km · Essex

2026

1.9applications per place 38.5Attainment 8
Notley High School and Sixth Form
13.6 km · Essex

2026

1.8applications per place 46.1Attainment 8
St Mary's Catholic School
13.9 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.7applications per place 56.8Attainment 8
Avanti Grange Secondary School
14.0 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

4.6applications per place

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: All-through
URN · DfE number: 137975 · 881/5457
Trust: Saffron Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,593 pupils · 1,265 on roll
Free school meals: 18.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2012
Replaced: Helena Romanes School and Sixth Form Centre (URN 115373)
Address: Parsonage Downs, Great Dunmow, CM6 2AU
Local authority: Essex · Uttlesford

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