School profile

Alec Hunter Academy

Secondary · Academy sponsor led · Braintree, CM7 3NR

Good

Map showing Alec Hunter Academy

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,453 of 3,312

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

Alec Hunter Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 13 Jul 2017

Ofsted rating
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy sponsor led
Ages11 to 16
Pupils1,058
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Trevor Lawn
TrustSAFFRON ACADEMY TRUST
Local authorityEssex
Opened01 Apr 2013
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 139402.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.47.1, similar to England, similar to Essex45.346.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.70.5%, better than England, better than Essex63.2%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.49.8%, better than England, better than Essex44.2%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.12.9%, similar to England, similar to Essex12.9%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths62.2%, similar to England, better than Essex58.5%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4217--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils1,058
Girls500
Boys558
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.13.8%
First language not English7.8%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,142
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.7.4%
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.150
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.43
Average class size24.6

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
84.5%
Other White
5.6%
Other mixed
2.2%
African
1.7%
White and Black Caribbean
1.4%
Indian
1.2%
White and Black African
1%
Caribbean
0.5%
Other Black
0.3%
Other ethnic group
0.3%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher17.4
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.12.1
Teachers (FTE)60.89
Teaching assistants (FTE)12.78
Support staff (FTE)45.63
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2558.9
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2556.9
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/251
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/251

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.202
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.483
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.227
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.189
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)1

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Overall absence7.1%, better than England, better than Essex8.2%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.18.6%, better than England, better than Essex21.4%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.2.3%, better than England, better than Essex4%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate8%
Pupils with one or more suspensions4%
Permanent exclusion rate0.1%
Permanent exclusions1

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.89.2%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.86.2%
Further education52.3%
Sixth form college27.2%
School sixth form6.2%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.6.2%
Apprenticeship2.6%
Employment0.5%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near Alec Hunter Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.3 miPrimaryBeckers Green Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.8 miPrimaryLyons Hall SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.0 miPrimaryGreat Bradfords Junior SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.0 miPrimaryGreat Bradfords Infant and Nursery SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.0 miPrimaryJohn Ray Infant SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.0 miPrimaryJohn Ray Junior SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good
1.2 miSecondaryNotley High School and Sixth FormAcademy converter
Good
1.3 miPrimaryCressing Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.4 miPrimarySt Francis Catholic Primary School, BraintreeVoluntary aided school
Good
1.6 miPrimaryJohn Bunyan Primary School and NurseryCommunity school
Good

Frequently asked questions about Alec Hunter Academy

What is Alec Hunter Academy's Ofsted rating?

Alec Hunter Academy is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 13 Jul 2017.

How does Alec Hunter Academy rank in England?

Alec Hunter Academy ranks 1,453 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools).

What are Alec Hunter Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 49.8% of pupils at Alec Hunter Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 47.1 (England 46.2).

How hard is it to get into Alec Hunter Academy?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Alec Hunter Academy made 202 offers from 483 applications (2.4 per offer), and 189 of 227 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Alec Hunter Academy?

Alec Hunter Academy has 1,058 pupils aged 11 to 16.

What is the capacity of Alec Hunter Academy?

Alec Hunter Academy had 1,142 school places in 2024/25.

Does Alec Hunter Academy have a sixth form?

No, Alec Hunter Academy teaches pupils up to age 16.

How big are classes at Alec Hunter Academy?

At Alec Hunter Academy, the average class had 24.6 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 17.4 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Alec Hunter Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at Alec Hunter Academy missed 7.1% of sessions (England 8%), and 18.6% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.