Academy converter · Essex

Tabor Academy

11–18Ages
989Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
139179URN

Panfield Lane, Braintree, CM7 5XP · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Jun 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.9per place

1.0 below Essex median (2.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

287 applications for 153 places · 58th of 78 in Essex

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

38.5of 90

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

68th of 79 in Essex

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 9 June 2026Published 7 September 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Expected standard	Needs attention
Inclusion		Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching		Expected standard
Achievement			Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour			Needs attention
Personal development and wellbeing		Expected standard
Early years	Does not apply to this school
Post-16 provision		Expected standard
Leadership and governance			Needs attention

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

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

9 June 2026
Report card · 4 Expected standard, 3 Needs attention
26 September 2023
Graded inspection: 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

1.9applications per place, Year 7

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

287 applications · 153 places offered · 127 named it first

2026 1.9; Essex median median 2.8
2025 1.8; Essex median median 2.7
2024 1.5; Essex median median 2.8
2023 2.0; Essex median median 2.7
2022 1.9; Essex median median 2.7
2021 1.6; Essex median median 2.6
2020 2.0; Essex median median 2.8
2019 1.8; Essex median median 2.7
2018 2.2; Essex median median 2.6
2017 2.3; Essex median median 2.7
2016 1.9; Essex median median 2.6
2015 2.4; Essex median median 2.5
2014 2.1; Essex median median 2.6

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

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	153	287	1.9	127	0.83
Sep 2025	183	326	1.8	137	0.75
Sep 2024	178	260	1.5	132	0.74
Sep 2023	143	290	2.0	120	0.84
Sep 2022	169	328	1.9	152	0.90
Sep 2021	172	272	1.6	131	0.76
Sep 2020	125	248	2.0	113	0.90
Sep 2019	159	289	1.8	154	0.97
Sep 2018	132	284	2.2	125	0.95
Sep 2017	111	258	2.3	97	0.87
Sep 2016	167	315	1.9	133	0.80
Sep 2015	171	403	2.4	144	0.84
Sep 2014	208	437	2.1	176	0.85

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

196 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)38.568th of 79 in Essex

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths32%64th of 79 in Essex

Essex 43% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths51%

Essex 66% England 66%

This school
Essex median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.41

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	196	38.5	32%	51%	–
2024/25	149	38.5	32%	54%	–
2023/24	177	39.8	35%	54%	−0.41
2022/23	161	40.1	35%	61%	−0.35

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

Tabor AcademyThis school
This school

2026

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

2026

1.8applications per place 46.1Attainment 8
Alec Hunter Academy
2.9 km · Essex

Remains Good2022

2.4applications per place 47.1Attainment 8
Lift New Rickstones
9.9 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

1.9applications per place 42.5Attainment 8
The Ramsey Academy, Halstead
10.0 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.6applications per place 46.5Attainment 8
Honywood School
10.3 km · Essex

Good2022

3.2applications per place 45.1Attainment 8
Hedingham School and Sixth Form
11.6 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

1.6applications per place 43.5Attainment 8
Lift Maltings
11.8 km · Essex

2026

1.6applications per place 40.6Attainment 8
Helena Romanes School
12.8 km · Essex

Good2023

1.8applications per place 44.0Attainment 8

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: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 139179 · 881/4470
Trust: Loxford School Trust Limited
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,050 pupils · 989 on roll
Free school meals: 25.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 January 2013
Replaced: Tabor Science College (URN 115231)
Address: Panfield Lane, Braintree, CM7 5XP
Local authority: Essex · Braintree

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