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Academy sponsor led · Essex

Alec Hunter Academy

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,058Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 139402URN

Stubbs Lane, Braintree, CM7 3NR · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted
Graded GoodJul 2017
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Nov 2022
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.4per place
0.4 below Essex median (2.8)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

483 applications for 202 places · 49th of 78 in Essex
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
47.1of 90
32nd of 79 in Essex
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Graded GoodJul 2017
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Nov 2022

Inspection history

  1. 9 November 2022
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
  2. 13 July 2017
    Graded inspection: 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
2.4applications per place, Year 7
0.4 below Essex median (2.8) close to England median (2.2)

483 applications · 202 places offered · 227 named it first

  1. 2026 2.4; Essex median median 2.8
  2. 2025 2.5; Essex median median 2.7
  3. 2024 2.1; Essex median median 2.8
  4. 2023 2.1; Essex median median 2.7
  5. 2022 1.9; Essex median median 2.7
  6. 2021 2.1; Essex median median 2.6
  7. 2020 1.7; Essex median median 2.8
  8. 2019 1.9; Essex median median 2.7
  9. 2018 2.0; Essex median median 2.6
  10. 2017 2.3; Essex median median 2.7
  11. 2016 2.4; Essex median median 2.6
  12. 2015 2.0; Essex median median 2.5
  13. 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

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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262024832.42271.12
Sep 20252045132.52701.32
Sep 20242064402.12391.16
Sep 20232134462.12311.08
Sep 20222094011.92091.00
Sep 20212164442.12291.06
Sep 20202003431.71930.97
Sep 20191853451.91800.97
Sep 20181663232.01570.95
Sep 20171353152.31280.95
Sep 20161363242.41230.90
Sep 20151703402.01460.86
Sep 20141663161.91260.76

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

217 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)47.132nd of 79 in Essex
Grade 5 or above in English and maths50%25th of 79 in Essex
Grade 4 or above in English and maths71%
  • This school
  • Essex median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.10
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)21747.150%71%–
2024/2520845.749%68%–
2023/2419545.845%70%−0.10
2022/2318644.643%67%−0.16

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

  • 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
139402 · 881/4010
Trust
Saffron Academy Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,142 pupils · 1,058 on roll
Free school meals
13.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 April 2013
Replaced
Alec Hunter Humanities College (URN 115221)
Address
Stubbs Lane, Braintree, CM7 3NR
Local authority
Essex · Braintree

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