Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow
94%
Capacity
989
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow
Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow was rated Requires Improvement in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, with the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all judged to require improvement, while personal development was rated Good. The school’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -1.01, placing it in the bottom 50% nationally and ranking 3028th out of 3141 schools across England. This score means that, on average, pupils achieved nearly one grade lower per subject than their peers with similar starting points. Within the local authority of Essex, where the average Progress 8 score is -0.18, Stewards ranks 72nd out of 86 secondary schools. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 33.5 and the fact that only 38.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths further underline the academic challenges it currently faces.
Looking at the breakdown of Progress 8 scores, English was the weakest area at -1.11, followed by the EBacc subjects at -1.12, and maths at -0.83. The EBacc average point score was 2.99, with just 14.9% of pupils entered for the full EBacc combination and only 6.4% achieving a grade 5 or above in it. The school’s ranking within Harlow itself is 6th out of 7 schools, and it sits in the bottom 50% nationally. For context, the top-performing schools in Essex, such as King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford, achieve Progress 8 scores above 1.0, highlighting the significant gap in outcomes. The school does not have a sixth form, so pupils must move elsewhere after Year 11. These figures suggest that for parents prioritising strong academic outcomes, Stewards Academy may not currently be the strongest choice in the area.
On a more positive note, the school offers a wide range of facilities including science labs, a swimming pool, a sports hall, tennis courts, and a theatre. There are numerous extracurricular clubs such as drama, coding, book club, choir, gardening, and Model UN, alongside sports like cricket, rugby, netball, and martial arts. The school has a comprehensive set of SEND provisions, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate and severe learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed with 296 applications for 176 places, and 135 first-preference offers were made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.68. With 33.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged community. Stewards Academy may suit families who value a broad range of activities and strong SEND support, but who are aware that academic performance is currently an area of focus for improvement.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Parnall Road, Harlow, Harlow, CM18 7NQ |
| Headteacher | Stephen Drew |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 989 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 33.6% |
| School Capacity | 989 / 1,050 (94% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 19 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.01)
3028th of 3,141
Nationally
341st of 350
In East of England
6th of 7
In Harlow
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2321%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 212 pupils).
- FE college63%
- School sixth form (stay)21%
- Not sustained6%
- Employment5%
- Apprenticeship4%
93% 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed176
296
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
135 families put this school as their 1st choice (46% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British62.1%
- White (other)11.4%
- Mixed8.7%
- Asian4.6%
- Black2.9%
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.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
13
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
11
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 Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow
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
Parnall Road, Harlow
Harlow, CM18 7NQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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