Alec Hunter Academy
Academy sponsor led · 1,058 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.7
Harlow College is a 16–19 provider, so there is no Year 11 cohort: this page covers where its students went after 16–18 study and what they achieved.
Among the 1,185 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 12% went to university (Essex 35%, England 37%), and 2% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
A level grades average D+, well below the England average of B-; 0% of students achieved AAB or better including two facilitating subjects (England 18%). The largest A level subjects are Psychology, Law and English Literature.
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Essex and England.
The Department for Education has not published destination figures for this school (new school, small cohort or not a state-funded school).
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
| Measure | Harlow College | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 1,185 | 13,240 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 70% | 81% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 12% | 35% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 2% | 15% | 19% |
| Further education | 7% | 4% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 10% | 8% | 7% |
| Employment | 42% | 33% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 23% | 14% | 16% |
No published Key Stage 4 results for this school.
| Measure | Harlow College | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 2,797 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 77 | 6,944 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | D+ | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 22.02 | 34.68 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | D+ | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 0% | 18% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 24 | 31% | 23% |
| Law | 16 | 21% | 4% |
| English Literature | 13 | 17% | 11% |
| Sociology | 12 | 16% | 13% |
| History | 12 | 16% | 13% |
| Biology | 10 | 13% | 20% |
| Politics | 8 | 10% | 6% |
| Business Studies | 7 | 9% | 13% |
| Chemistry | 7 | 9% | 17% |
| Economics | 7 | 9% | 13% |
| Mathematics | — | — | 31% |
| Philosophy | — | — | 1% |
| Geography | — | — | 10% |
| English Language | — | — | 4% |
| Computer Science | — | — | 5% |
| Photography | — | — | 3% |
| Fine Art | — | — | 3% |
| Polish | — | — | 0% |
| Physics | — | — | 12% |
| Media Studies | — | — | 4% |
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 55 | 71% | — |
| Engineering Studies | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 34 | 44% | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (All) | 31 | 40% | — |
| Aerospace Engineering | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 30 | 39% | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 24 | 31% | — |
| Electrical installation (Buildings / Construction) | VRQ Level 3 | 23 | 30% | — |
| Sociology | GCE AS level (All) | 22 | 29% | — |
| Computing and IT Advanced Technician | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 21 | 27% | — |
| Engineering Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 20 | 26% | — |
| Law | GCE AS level (All) | 19 | 25% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 18 | 23% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 17 | 22% | — |
| History | GCE AS level (All) | 16 | 21% | — |
| Health Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma at Level 3 | 13 | 17% | — |
| Business Studies | GCE AS level (All) | 12 | 16% | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (All) | 12 | 16% | — |
| Health Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma at Level 3 | 12 | 16% | — |
| Politics | GCE AS level (All) | 12 | 16% | — |
| Economics | GCE AS level (All) | 11 | 14% | — |
| Sociology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | 11 | 14% | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | 11 | 14% | — |
| Plumbing (Building Work) | VRQ Level 3 | 10 | 13% | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (All) | 10 | 13% | — |
| Law / Legal Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | 9 | 12% | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | 7 | 9% | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (All) | 6 | 8% | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | 6 | 8% | — |
| Plumbing (Building Work) | VRQ Level 2 | 6 | 8% | — |
| Computer Science | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| English Language | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Geography | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Media Studies | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Economics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| English Language | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Geography | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Politics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| History | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Law | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Media Studies | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | — | — | — |
| Health Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma at Level 2 | — | — | — |
| Health Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Law / Legal Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Childcare Skills | VRQ Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | — | — | — |
Academy sponsor led · 1,058 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.7
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,533 pupils
96% stayed in education · Attainment 8 55.6
Foundation school · sixth form · 1,486 pupils
83% stayed in education · Attainment 8 48.1
Free schools · sixth form · 1,152 pupils
93% stayed in education · Attainment 8 56.0
University technical college · sixth form · 240 pupils
84% stayed in education · Attainment 8 28.1
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,097 pupils
78% stayed in education · Attainment 8 43.2
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.