The Ongar Academy
Fyfield Road, Ongar, CM5 0ANOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Ongar Academy is a secondary school in Ongar for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. It ranks 64th of 78 secondary schools in Essex. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in May 2018.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 16 May 2018, report published 25 June 2018
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 31 October 2023
Pupils enjoy attending The Ongar Academy. They feel increasingly positive about the school after an unsettled period. They appreciate the high expectations the school now has of behaviour. Pupils are polite, tolerant, and respectful towards each other. Most pupils behave well. The school provides a high level of individual support for pupils who need it. Relationships between staff and pupils are very strong. This enables pupils who find school difficult to feel more confident and able to successfully focus on their learning. Pupils increasingly attend well. Pupils develop their confidence through a range of leadership opportunities and clubs. Pupils are elected to leadership positions by their peers. They can participate in experiences that prepare them for adulthood, such as The Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. There are many clubs, including drama and art. Girls and boys participate enthusiastically in a range of sports clubs. Pupils' knowledge and understanding are enhanced by well-planned visits, including to a local castle and zoo. The school is determined that all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) do well. Pupils follow a curriculum that is increasingly well adapted to meet the needs of all pupils so that they can achieve well.
What the school should improve
- While the reading curriculum is effective, the school has not checked how well pupils learn to read. The few pupils who struggle to learn to read are not identified quickly enough. The school should ensure that the plans in place to provide weaker readers with the additional support they need are implemented swiftly.
- The school's CEIAG programme does not provide pupils with enough high-quality encounters with employers and higher education providers, or with opportunities to experience the world of work. This means that pupils are not aware of the opportunities ahead of them and how to access these. The school should ensure that its CEIAG programme is developed and implemented, and its effectiveness evaluated fully, so that pupils build their knowledge and experience of the world of work.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
112 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
467 pupils on roll, with places for 800
Schools near The Ongar Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Nicholas School | 6 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 46.0 |
| Passmores Academy | 6 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 34.8 |
| Coopersale Hall School | 6 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Open Box Education Centre | 6 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 15.2 |
| Shenfield High School | 6 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 45.3 |
School details
- School type
- Free schools
- Sector
- Free school
- Trust
- BRIDGE ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Jonathan Sands
- Phone
- 01277500990
- Address
- Fyfield Road, Ongar, CM5 0AN
- Local authority
- Essex
- URN
- 141947
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.