Alec Hunter Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Braintree, Essex, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 150 of its 1,058 pupils (14.2%) were getting SEN support and 43 (4.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,058 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Essex.
14.2% get SEN support
150 of 1,058 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.1% have an EHC plan
43 of 1,058 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health65
- Autism59
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia30
- Speech, language and communication16
- Moderate learning difficulty6
- Physical disability6
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,058 (places for 1,142)
- Headteacher
- Mr Trevor Lawn
- Part of
- Saffron Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 13.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Essex
- School reference (URN)
- 139402
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Essex council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, July 2017; school remains Good (November 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in July 2017. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, November 2022).
Contact and getting there
Stubbs Lane, Braintree, CM7 3NR
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Notley High School and Sixth Form Mainstream + base · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.1 miles
- The Edith Borthwick School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.0 miles
- Southview School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 4.5 miles
- Acorn Infant Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–7 5.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Alec Hunter Academy
How many pupils at Alec Hunter Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 150 of the 1,058 pupils (14.2%) were getting SEN support and 43 (4.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Alec Hunter Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (65 pupils), autism (59 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (30 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Alec Hunter Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Alec Hunter Academy?
Through Essex council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Alec Hunter Academy?
You can ask for Alec Hunter Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Alec Hunter Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Notley High School and Sixth Form, about 1.1 miles away.
Where is Alec Hunter Academy?
Stubbs Lane, Braintree, CM7 3NR, in Essex.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.