The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy, Chelmsford
The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 16 in Chelmsford, part of The Beckmead Trust.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy are The Hawthorns School (under 0.1 miles); Lift Columbus (0.8 miles, Outstanding); The Bridge Columbus (0.8 miles); and High Trees (0.9 miles).
The Hawthorns SchoolLift ColumbusThe Bridge ColumbusHigh Trees
The trust
The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy is one of 12 schools run by The Beckmead Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
71.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (86%) and Mixed (9%).
Almost every pupil at The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy has an education, health and care plan (66 of 66 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Chelmsford Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Highfield Road (adjacent), 330 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 339 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.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
No inspection data available
At a Glance
71.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy
Policies, Funding & Ofsted Reports
29 Sep 2026
Safeguarding
27 Sep 2026
Term Dates
3 Sep 2026
Curriculum
3 Sep 2026
Pupil Performance
3 Sep 2026
Parent/Carers Information
3 Sep 2026
From The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy is in Essex; for families living there:
- Essex's school travel policy: Education Transport Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 16
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 10 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
103%
Over capacity
66 pupils
64 places
2 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Chelmsford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Chelmsford
Across Essex council
Places available
17,590
Applications
16,568
Got 1st preference
83.4%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
66
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
66
Total Pupils
50
Boys
16
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
8.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,713
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
33.8%
Overall absence
82.5%
Persistent absence
40
Enrolments
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy
What is the catchment area for The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy?
No fixed boundary. When The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy?
The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy has around 66 pupils on roll. 71% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy?
33.8% of sessions were missed at The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy in 2024/25. 82.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 10 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy?
The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy is at Thornhurst Road, Chelmsford, CM1 2XT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)