Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport
94%
Capacity
968
Pupils
2.7x
Demand
About Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport
Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport is a state secondary school in Uttlesford that is clearly in demand among local families. For entry in 2025/26, the school received 394 applications for 144 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.74, meaning nearly three families applied for every available spot. Of those applications, 71 were first-preference choices, all of which were offered places. While the school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, the high level of competition for places suggests strong local confidence. The school is rated Good overall by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2023, a rating it has held consistently across both its graded inspections. However, the inspection report noted that behaviour and attitudes require improvement, which is worth investigating further if that is a priority for your child.
Academically, the school's results are mixed. At GCSE, pupils achieved a Progress 8 score of -0.23, which is below the national average and slightly below the Essex local authority average of -0.18. This places Joyce Frankland in the bottom 50 nationally for progress, ranking 3rd out of 4 schools in Uttlesford and 245th out of 350 in the East of England. The Attainment 8 score was 49.1, with 73.1% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths. Progress in English was close to average at +0.03, but maths progress was weaker at -0.35. At A-level, the picture is more challenging: the school's value-added score of -0.89 is well below average, with pupils achieving an average grade of D per entry. Only 3.4% of entries were graded AAB or higher, and the sixth form was rated Good in the inspection.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. There are clubs covering drama, debate, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and science, plus sports such as martial arts, gymnastics, and cross country. SEND provision is well-documented, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 11.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a fairly typical demographic for the area. Joyce Frankland is likely to suit families who value a well-equipped, oversubscribed local secondary with a Good Ofsted rating and a sixth form, but who are comfortable with a school where academic progress is below average and where behaviour has been flagged as an area for improvement.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Bury Water Lane, Saffron Walden, Uttlesford, CB11 3TR |
| Headteacher | Deborah Warwick |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 968 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 11.7% |
| School Capacity | 968 / 1,030 (94% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
27 Jun 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 20 Sept 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.23)
2091st of 3,141
Nationally
245th of 350
In East of England
3rd of 4
In Uttlesford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
28.3
'22/23
22.7
'23/24
18.4
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2345%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 140 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)45%
- Sixth form college26%
- FE college11%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment5%
94% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2343%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 53 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
20%
Russell Group
23%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)43%
- Employment32%
- Not sustained11%
- Further education6%
- Apprenticeship6%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Art and Design (Photography)13
- Psychology12
- Business Studies:Single10
- Sociology10
- Biology9
- Economics8
- History7
- English Language6
- Mathematics6
- Media/Film/Tv Studies6
- Government and Politics5
- Art and Design (Fine Art)4
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed144
394
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
71 families put this school as their 1st choice (18% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:15
Source: joycefrankland.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British87.1%
- White (other)4.5%
- Mixed3.7%
- Asian1.5%
- Black0.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Bury Water Lane, Saffron Walden
Uttlesford, CB11 3TR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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