Schools by area › Essex › The Ongar Academy
The Ongar Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Free school
Fyfield Road, Ongar CM5 0AN · theongaracademy.org · 01277 500990
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Nov 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 37.4
- average Attainment 8 score. Essex 45.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.8
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 467
- 58% of 800 places
- Local authority
- Essex
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 27.4%
- First language not English
- 3.6%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Bridge Academy Trust
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 90 families put the school first and 107 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 107 | 90 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 82 | 66 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 87 | 63 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 119 | 102 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 118 | 113 | 1 | 94% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 37.4, and 25.9% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Essex it was 45.1, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼37.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼25.9% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼50.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼34.8% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.23 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 27.9 | −1.3 |
| Further education | 53.2 | +4.5 |
| Other education | 2.7 | +0.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 5.4 | −0.8 |
| Employment | 1.8 | −4.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.5 | −0.8 |
| Activity not captured | 4.5 | +1.8 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2022/23 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 39.4 | −24.2 |
| Apprenticeship | 15.2 | +9.1 |
| Employment | 30.3 | +6.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 12.1 | +6 |
| Activity not captured | 3 | — |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 1 November 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for The Ongar Academy was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 31 Oct 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, May 2018
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
May 2018Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective
What parents said
71% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (95 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 71%
- Replies
- 95
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 81% who raised concerns
based on the 39% who had a child bullied
based on 16 parents (17%) with SEND