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Acorn Academy

Braintree, CM8 1NAPrimaryAges 3–7MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Dec 2024
KS2 Results
No data
Competition
0.7×
Not oversubscribed
41 1st-choice / 56 places
Ranking
Not ranked

About Acorn Academy

Acorn Academy is a state primary school in Braintree, part of the Essex local authority, catering for children aged 3 to 7. It is a mixed, non-religious school with no designated religious character, led by headteacher Cheryl Noble. Among primary schools in the same local authority, the top-ranked peers include St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School in Colchester and Stambridge Primary School, both with a ranking score of 100, followed by Great Totham Primary School at 95. Acorn Academy itself holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained consistently across its two most recent inspections. The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, receiving 75 applications for 56 places, with 41 of those coming as first preferences. This level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, particularly given that only 33 of the 444 primary schools in Essex are rated Outstanding, and the nearest Outstanding school, Chipping Hill Primary School, is 2 kilometres away.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 7 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressSpa Road, Witham, Braintree, CM8 1NA
HeadteacherCheryl Noble
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils224
Free School Meals (FSM)32.9%
School Capacity224 / 270 (83% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

What 32 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

17 Dec 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 16 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

6
Sports HallPlaying FieldsForest SchoolMusic RoomsOutdoor PlaygroundChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

11

Sports

RoundersAthleticsDanceSwimmingNetball

Clubs & Activities

ChessCodingFilm ClubScience ClubArt ClubEco Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning DifficultyResourced Provision

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Acorn Academy

Acorn Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.