Alec Hunter Academy
Academy sponsor led · 1,058 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.7
Further education
USP College
- Pupils on roll
- —
- Free school meals
- —
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- —
- Ofsted
- Not covered by Ofsted school inspections
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Palmer's College (URN 130682, until 1 August 2017).
What the data says
USP 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 1,607 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 26% went to university (Essex 35%, England 37%), and 3% 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-; 2% of students achieved AAB or better including two facilitating subjects (England 18%). The largest A level subjects are Sociology, Psychology and Mathematics.
Where pupils went after Year 11
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).
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | USP College | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 1,607 | 13,240 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 78% | 81% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 26% | 35% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 3% | 15% | 19% |
| Further education | 5% | 4% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 8% | 8% | 7% |
| Employment | 39% | 33% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 16% | 14% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
No published Key Stage 4 results for this school.
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | USP College | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 3,767 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 444 | 6,944 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | D+ | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 24.98 | 34.68 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C- | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 2% | 18% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology | 118 | 27% | 13% |
| Psychology | 94 | 21% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 73 | 16% | 31% |
| Media Studies | 62 | 14% | 4% |
| Law | 61 | 14% | 4% |
| History | 59 | 13% | 13% |
| English Language and Literature | 52 | 12% | 2% |
| English Literature | 49 | 11% | 11% |
| Accounting/Finance | 43 | 10% | 1% |
| Business Studies | 42 | 9% | 13% |
| Biology | 37 | 8% | 20% |
| 3D Design | 37 | 8% | 1% |
| Graphic Communication | 35 | 8% | 2% |
| Classical Civilisation | 33 | 7% | 1% |
| Politics | 33 | 7% | 6% |
| Fine Art | 27 | 6% | 3% |
| Physics | 27 | 6% | 12% |
| Film Studies | 24 | 5% | 2% |
| Chemistry | 20 | 5% | 17% |
| Textiles | 19 | 4% | 1% |
| Economics | 18 | 4% | 13% |
| Photography | 18 | 4% | 3% |
| Geography | 11 | 2% | 10% |
| Further Mathematics | — | — | 5% |
| Polish | — | — | 0% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 137 | 31% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 130 | 29% | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | 122 | 27% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 72 | 16% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 68 | 15% | — |
| Finance / Accounting (General) | VRQ Level 3 | 49 | 11% | — |
| Sports / Movement Science | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 47 | 11% | — |
| Engineering Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 39 | 9% | — |
| Animal Husbandry: Specific Animals | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 37 | 8% | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 34 | 8% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 31 | 7% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 30 | 7% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 27 | 6% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 24 | 5% | — |
| Computing and IT Advanced Technician | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 24 | 5% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 21 | 5% | — |
| Engineering Studies | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 21 | 5% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 19 | 4% | — |
| Engineering Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 13 | 3% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 10 | 2% | — |
| Animal Husbandry: Specific Animals | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 8 | 2% | — |
| Childcare Skills | VRQ Level 3 | 7 | 2% | — |
| Sports / Movement Science | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 6 | 1% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Animal Husbandry: Specific Animals | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Computing and IT Advanced Technician | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Animal Care (Non-Agricultural) | BTEC Technical Diploma L2 - Band F - PP-DD | — | — | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Essex
Anglo European School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,533 pupils
96% stayed in education · Attainment 8 55.6
Beauchamps High School
Foundation school · sixth form · 1,486 pupils
83% stayed in education · Attainment 8 48.1
Becket Keys Church of England Free School
Free schools · sixth form · 1,152 pupils
93% stayed in education · Attainment 8 56.0
Bmat Stem Academy
University technical college · sixth form · 240 pupils
84% stayed in education · Attainment 8 28.1
Brentwood County High School
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.