The Ongar Academy
Ongar, CM5 0AN · Essex · secondary school
Check the area around this school
59th of 78 secondary schools in Essex we can score, 81 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 867 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.8/10 among them, against 1.6/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 30.9 · 17 | 30% | 0.51 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.57 · 13 | 25% | 0.32 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.0 · 20 | 10% | 0.20 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Ongar Academy overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. In 2024/25, 25.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 37.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.57 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.4 out of 10 among them, against 1.1 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Music lessons are available for pupils.
Getting in
The published school roll is 467 pupils against a stated capacity of 800. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds? How are music lessons integrated into the wider curriculum?
What Ofsted said about The Ongar Academy
Overview
The Ongar Academy continues to be a good school, with pupils enjoying attendance and feeling increasingly positive following an unsettled period. The report highlights strong relationships between staff and pupils, alongside high expectations for behaviour that foster a polite and respectful environment.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "well thought out," clearly identifying learning goals and building knowledge over time, with subject leaders accurately checking pupil understanding.
- Teachers use effective questioning and provide clear feedback, enabling pupils to "achieve well" and develop communication skills through independent work and discussion.
- Strong individual support is provided for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), allowing them to "successfully access the same curriculum as their peers."
- The school’s approach of "discipline with dignity" has improved attitudes to learning, with the vast majority of pupils behaving well and treating each other with respect.
- A well-considered personal, social and health education curriculum ensures pupils feel it is "safe and normal to be different," covering topics such as consent and online safety.
Areas to improve
- The school must implement plans swiftly to identify and support the few pupils who struggle to learn to read, as current checks are not precise enough.
- The careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) programme requires development to provide more high-quality encounters with employers and higher education providers.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 38.9 |
| 2024/25 | 37.4 |
| 2025/26 | 40.0 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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