Alec Hunter Academy
Academy sponsor led · 1,058 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.7
Academy sponsor led
Lift Clacton
- Pupils on roll
- 1,466of 1,550 places
- Free school meals
- 57.3%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 247
- Ofsted
- Good, 11 June 2024Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registrations: Colbayns High School (URN 115361, until 1 September 2009); Bishops Park College (URN 133483, until 1 September 2009).
What the data says
Of the 242 pupils who finished Year 11 at Lift Clacton in 2023, 45% stayed on in Lift Clacton’s own sixth form (Essex average 37%), 26% went to a further education college and 2% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 77 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 18% went to university (Essex 35%, England 37%), and 0% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
GCSE results in 2025 were well below the national picture: Attainment 8 of 30.0 against 46.1 across England and 45.1 in Essex, with 15% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
12% of leavers were not in sustained education, employment or training six months on, compared with 6% nationally.
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.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Lift Clacton | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 242 | 15,970 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 80% | 92% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 74% | 86% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 45% | 37% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 2% | 9% | 13% |
| — further education college | 26% | 38% | 37% |
| — other education | — | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Employment | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 12% | 5% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 7% | 3% | 3% |
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 | Lift Clacton | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 77 | 13,240 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 61% | 81% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 18% | 35% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 0% | 15% | 19% |
| Further education | 3% | 4% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 8% | 7% |
| Employment | 34% | 33% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 34% | 14% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Lift Clacton | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 30.0 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 15% | 43% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 37% | 64% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 15% | 39% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 2.45 | 3.97 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 55% | 22% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 24.2 | 31.1 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 37.0 | 48.9 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 5% | 9% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 244 | 99% | 88% | 4% | 22% | 47% |
| English Language | 244 | 99% | 89% | 5% | 20% | 37% |
| English Literature | 244 | 99% | 86% | 3% | 21% | 39% |
| Statistics | 196 | 79% | 5% | 2% | 20% | 36% |
| Combined Science | 178 | 72% | 65% | 2% | 9% | 24% |
| History | 131 | 53% | 41% | 11% | 26% | 39% |
| Geography | 78 | 32% | 41% | 5% | 25% | 40% |
| Sociology | 53 | 21% | 4% | 23% | 21% | 43% |
| Business Studies | 51 | 21% | 18% | 8% | 20% | 45% |
| Biology | 39 | 16% | 23% | 8% | 45% | 56% |
| Physics | 38 | 15% | 23% | 13% | 46% | 66% |
| Chemistry | 38 | 15% | 23% | 21% | 47% | 68% |
| German | 26 | 11% | 5% | 8% | 33% | 12% |
| Fine Art | 24 | 10% | 9% | 8% | 28% | 50% |
| Art and Design | 22 | 9% | 7% | 0% | 24% | 50% |
| Religious Studies | 22 | 9% | 31% | 14% | 32% | 50% |
| Photography | 21 | 9% | 6% | 5% | 19% | 76% |
| Graphic Communication | 17 | 7% | 1% | 0% | 23% | 29% |
| French | 8 | 3% | 18% | 13% | 29% | 38% |
| Spanish | 4 | 2% | 19% | — | 27% | — |
| Russian | 2 | 1% | 0% | — | 87% | — |
| Chinese | 1 | 0% | 1% | — | 75% | — |
| Italian | 1 | 0% | 0% | — | 53% | — |
| Polish | 1 | 0% | 1% | — | 84% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Studies | 59 | 100% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 50 | 100% | — |
| Engineering Studies | 33 | 100% | — |
| Health Studies | 24 | 92% | — |
| Childcare Skills | 23 | 88% | — |
| Multimedia | 19 | 73% | — |
| Beauty Care / Services | 18 | 69% | — |
| Speech and Drama | 15 | 58% | — |
| Music performance: Group | 8 | 31% | — |
| Dance: General | 8 | 31% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Lift Clacton | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 189 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 26 | 6,944 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 28.85 | 34.68 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C+ | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 13% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| History | 9 | 35% | 13% |
| Sociology | 8 | 31% | 13% |
| Biology | 6 | 23% | 20% |
| Fine Art | — | — | 3% |
| Photography | — | — | 3% |
| Chemistry | — | — | 17% |
| Computer Science | — | — | 5% |
| English Literature | — | — | 11% |
| Geography | — | — | 10% |
| German | — | — | 0% |
| Politics | — | — | 6% |
| Mathematics | — | — | 31% |
| Physics | — | — | 12% |
| Polish | — | — | 0% |
| Psychology | — | — | 23% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 11 | 42% | — |
| Health Studies | VRQ Level 3 | 11 | 42% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 11 | 42% | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 8 | 31% | — |
| Childcare Skills | VRQ Level 3 | 8 | 31% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 6 | 23% | — |
| History | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | — | — | — |
| Multimedia | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Multimedia | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| History | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
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.