Best secondary schools in Harlow (2026)
Harlow has 6 ranked secondary schools with published results. The top-ranked is St Mark's West Essex Catholic School, in the top 50% in England. The average Attainment 8 here in 2025 was 41.4, against 46.1 for England. 0 are in England's top 10%, and 0 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Harlow has no grammar schools.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 (2023–2025 average) | Attainment 8 2025 | Trend | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 50% in England |
St Mark's West Essex Catholic School Harlow · Roman Catholic |
46.8 | 46.3 | 39% | Good | |
2 Bottom 49% in England |
Sir Frederick Gibberd College Harlow |
45.1 | 44.0 | 44% | Not judged | |
3 Bottom 46% in England |
Burnt Mill Academy Harlow |
44.7 | 45.2 | 44% | Good | |
4 Bottom 10% in England |
Passmores Academy Harlow |
37.2 | 34.8 | 21% | No rating | |
5 Bottom 7% in England |
Stewards Academy - Science Specialist, Harlow Harlow |
35.7 | 38.9 | 31% | Requires improvement | |
6 Bottom 6% in England |
Mark Hall Academy Harlow |
35.5 | 38.9 | 30% | Not judged |
Other towns in Essex
- Basildon
- Braintree
- Brentwood
- Chelmsford
- Colchester
- Grays
- Loughton
- Southend-on-Sea
- Thundersley and South Benfleet
Also see
Questions
What is the best secondary school in Harlow?
On exam results over the last three years, St Mark's West Essex Catholic School is the top-ranked secondary school in Harlow, in the top 50% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.