Burnt Mill Academy, Harlow

From the headteacher's welcome: "Burnt Mill is a caring and friendly school and our students tell us that when they come to school, they feel happy, safe and they enjoy their learning. This positive environment, where our students are supported and inspired to be the best that they can possibly be, enables every child to thrive."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include basketball, drama, chess, knitting, Duke of Edinburgh and cadets.

In 2026, pupils at Burnt Mill Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.5 in Essex and 47 across England.

49% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Essex and 47% in England.

That is up from 45.2 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.21: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 36.7, against 50.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Social Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 173 families put Burnt Mill Academy as their first choice and 486 named it as one of their preferences, for 209 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Burnt Mill Academy are Bmat Stem Academy (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 29.9); St Mark's West Essex Catholic School (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50); Mark Hall Academy (1 mile, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 37.8); and Sir Frederick Gibberd College (1.3 miles, Attainment 8 44.7).

Burnt Mill Academy's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Burnt Mill Academy is one of 12 schools run by Bmat Education, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.7 in 2024/25.

Of the 182 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 60% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

In 2026, 159 pupils (16.6%) received SEN support and 20 (2.1%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

Burnt Mill Academy had 76 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Harlow Town Rail Station, about 1000 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Burnt Mill School (outside), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 421 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Burnt Mill Academy issued 505 suspensions, 53.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Burnt Mill Academy are St Alban's Catholic Academy (under 0.1 miles), Freshwaters Primary Academy (0.3 miles), Tany's Dell Primary School and Nursery (0.5 miles) and Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.