Tabor Academy, Braintree

In its own words: "The school started life in the early part of the twentieth century on Panfield Lane. Nominally co-educational, girls and boys were separated; the school effectively was split into two parts. Later with the introduction of the 1944 Education Act the school opened as a newly established secondary modern school and eventually became a fully coeducational school."

In 2026, pupils at Tabor Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.5 in Essex and 47 across England.

32% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Essex and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 38.5.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.41: 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 30.7, against 42 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 127 families put Tabor Academy as their first choice and 287 named it as one of their preferences, for 153 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 Tabor Academy are Notley High School and Sixth Form (1.4 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 46.1); Alec Hunter Academy (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.1); Lift New Rickstones (6.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.5); and The Ramsey Academy, Halstead (6.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.5).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Tabor Academy.

Tabor Academy is one of 7 schools run by Loxford School Trust Limited, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.4 in 2024/25.

47 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Tabor Academy (as of September 2025): 47% would recommend the school, 62% say their child is happy there and 44% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (62%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (32%).

Of the 177 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 47% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.

Of the 37 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 24% went on to university or other higher education, 11% to apprenticeships and 35% into work. 10% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

The nearest railway station is Braintree Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Post Office (outside), 320 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 166 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Tabor Academy issued 245 suspensions, 25.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Tabor Academy are John Bunyan Primary School and Nursery (0.2 miles); St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree (0.4 miles); St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (0.5 miles); and Great Bradfords Infant and Nursery School (1.1 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.