Academy sponsor led · Essex

The Ramsey Academy, Halstead

11–16Ages
702Pupils
SecondaryPhase
139248URN

Colne Road, Halstead, CO9 2HR · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Sep 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.6per place

1.2 below Essex median (2.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

182 applications for 112 places · 65th of 78 in Essex

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

46.5of 90

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

35th of 79 in Essex

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 24 September 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education	Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Requires improvement
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

1.6applications per place, Year 7

1.2 below Essex median (2.8) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

182 applications · 112 places offered · 104 named it first

2026 1.6; Essex median median 2.8
2025 1.8; Essex median median 2.7
2024 1.6; Essex median median 2.8
2023 1.6; Essex median median 2.7
2022 1.5; Essex median median 2.7
2021 1.5; Essex median median 2.6
2020 1.5; Essex median median 2.8
2019 1.5; Essex median median 2.7
2018 1.8; Essex median median 2.6
2017 1.5; Essex median median 2.7
2016 1.8; Essex median median 2.6
2015 1.6; Essex median median 2.5
2014 1.8; 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	112	182	1.6	104	0.93
Sep 2025	111	203	1.8	101	0.91
Sep 2024	148	241	1.6	137	0.93
Sep 2023	149	243	1.6	160	1.07
Sep 2022	158	242	1.5	159	1.01
Sep 2021	162	243	1.5	146	0.90
Sep 2020	160	232	1.5	156	0.98
Sep 2019	155	238	1.5	148	0.95
Sep 2018	127	229	1.8	119	0.94
Sep 2017	150	221	1.5	148	0.99
Sep 2016	113	200	1.8	107	0.95
Sep 2015	119	195	1.6	111	0.93
Sep 2014	125	221	1.8	108	0.86

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

134 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)46.535th of 79 in Essex

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths52%20th of 79 in Essex

Essex 43% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths67%

Essex 66% England 66%

This school
Essex median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.05

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	134	46.5	52%	67%	–
2024/25	150	39.3	29%	54%	–
2023/24	152	44.3	43%	61%	−0.05
2022/23	147	39.8	34%	54%	−0.39

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

The Ramsey Academy, HalsteadThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.6applications per place 46.5Attainment 8
Hedingham School and Sixth Form
5.8 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

1.6applications per place 43.5Attainment 8
Honywood School
8.3 km · Essex

Good2022

3.2applications per place 45.1Attainment 8
Alec Hunter Academy
9.6 km · Essex

Remains Good2022

2.4applications per place 47.1Attainment 8
Tabor Academy
10.0 km · Essex

2026

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

2026

1.8applications per place 46.1Attainment 8
Thomas Gainsborough School
11.4 km · Suffolk

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.5applications per place 46.7Attainment 8
Ormiston Sudbury Academy
12.7 km · Suffolk

2026

1.5applications per place 43.2Attainment 8
Lift New Rickstones
14.3 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

1.9applications per place 42.5Attainment 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 sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 139248 · 881/4008
Trust: Bridge Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 750 pupils · 702 on roll
Free school meals: 25.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2013
Replaced: The Ramsey College (URN 115208)
Address: Colne Road, Halstead, CO9 2HR
Local authority: Essex · Braintree

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