Tabor Academy
92%
Capacity
963
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Tabor Academy
Tabor Academy, a mixed state secondary in Braintree, Essex, presents a mixed picture for parents. Of the 47 families who responded to the most recent Parent View survey, only 47% said they would recommend the school. The school is oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26, with 326 applications for 183 places, giving a ratio of 1.78 applicants per place. However, the parent feedback reveals significant concerns. Just 38% of respondents felt their child is happy at the school, and only 57% agreed their child feels safe. On behaviour, 58% of parents felt the school ensures pupils are well behaved. Perhaps most strikingly, only 17% of parents agreed that bullying is dealt with quickly and effectively, though 53% marked this question as not applicable. Communication is another area of weakness: just 34% of parents felt the school makes them aware of what their child will learn, and only 42% agreed the school lets them know how their child is doing.
Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2023 rated it as Requires Improvement overall, with the same grade for quality of education and leadership and management. Behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision were all rated Good. In terms of exam results, the school's Progress 8 score for 2023/24 was -0.41, which is below the local authority average of -0.18 and places Tabor Academy in the bottom 50 nationally. The Attainment 8 score was 39.8, and 35% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the average points per entry was 27.39, equivalent to a C- grade, and the value added score was -0.04, which is banded as Average. The school ranks 58th out of 86 similar schools in Essex, and 6th out of 8 in Braintree.
The school offers a range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, science labs, art studios, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include cricket, swimming, rowing, and martial arts, while clubs include Model UN, orchestra, and Young Enterprise. The school has a broad range of SEND provisions, covering areas such as autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. However, only 17% of parents with SEND children felt the school gives them the support they need, with 61% strongly disagreeing. With 24.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged community. Given the Ofsted rating and parent feedback, this school may suit families who are already engaged with the school and see potential for improvement, but those with children with SEND or who prioritise strong communication from the school may want to investigate further.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Panfield Lane, Braintree, Braintree, CM7 5XP |
| Headteacher | Kellyann Brown |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 963 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.3% |
| School Capacity | 963 / 1,050 (92% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 8 Nov 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.41)
2467th of 3,141
Nationally
287th of 350
In East of England
6th of 8
In Braintree
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)
'22/23
27.1
'23/24
27.4
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
2022/2339%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 147 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)39%
- FE college32%
- Sixth form college10%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment5%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- English Literature13
- Psychology13
- Biology11
- Art and Design7
- Business Studies:Single7
- History7
- Geography5
- Sociology5
- French4
- Chemistry3
- Drama and Theatre Studies3
- Economics3
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.
Ofsted Parent View
47 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed183
326
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
137 families put this school as their 1st choice (42% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:25
Source: taboracademy.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British78.2%
- White (other)6.2%
- Mixed4.5%
- Asian2.1%
- Black1.7%
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.
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.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
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 Tabor Academy
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
Panfield Lane, Braintree
Braintree, CM7 5XP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
