King Harold Business & Enterprise Academy, Waltham Abbey
Data last updated 12 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
King Harold creates a safe, supportive environment where pupils feel cared for and included. The school excels at identifying barriers to learning early and providing targeted help - from mentoring programmes for disadvantaged pupils to specialist support for those with additional needs. Pupils particularly benefit from strong careers guidance and preparation for their next steps.
Key Strengths
- Strong safeguarding culture where pupils feel safe and concerns are actively managed
- Effective attendance strategies and support programmes like ACE mentors helping pupils engage with school
- Well-established behaviour systems creating a calm, orderly learning environment
- Comprehensive support for disadvantaged pupils and those with additional needs
- Strong careers education and guidance helping pupils prepare for their futures
Areas for Improvement
- Overall attainment and progress remain below national comparisons in most subjects
- Teaching quality is inconsistent across subjects, with some teachers not adapting lessons well enough for individual pupils
- Weaknesses in basic skills such as writing, handwriting and presentation limiting pupil progress
- Personal development curriculum not consistently delivered across all year groups
- Extra-curricular activities and enrichment opportunities not equally accessible to all pupils
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met. The school has created an open and positive culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
School parliament, clubs, trips, work experience, careers guidance interviews
King Harold Business & Enterprise Academy is a secondary school in Waltham Abbey, Essex. The school provides a safe environment with effective support systems, but faces challenges in teaching quality and overall pupil achievement.
At a Glance
33.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
25.5
Avg class size
28
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
108%
Over capacity
812 pupils
750 capacity
62 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Waltham Abbey
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Waltham Abbey
Admissions Demand - Essex
Places available
17,576
Applications
16,788
Got 1st preference
83.8%
Got preferred school
97.1%
Secondary admissions across Essex (2025/26)
Inspection History(8)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.63385%
Overall absence
25.11792%
Persistent absence
848
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
King Harold Business & Enterprise Academy
Nearby Schools
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