UTC · Borehamwood, Hertfordshire
Elstree Screen Arts Academy
Behind-the-scenes media production · Performing arts and entertainment technologies · Games art and design
Part of the England-wide UTC network overseen by the Baker Dearing Educational Trust. All figures below are a point-in-time snapshot (Data gathered and cross-checked in July 2026) — how this was gathered.
At a glance
Official name
Elstree Screen Arts Academy
Location
Borehamwood, Hertfordshire
University partner
University of Hertfordshire
Technical specialisms
Behind-the-scenes media production Performing arts and entertainment technologies Games art and design
Age range
14 to 19
Roll (pupils on site)
approx 498 (2025)
Capacity
600 places
Opened
2013
URN
139416
Academy trust
Danes Educational Trust
Ofsted
Ofsted: Outstanding (January 2025)
Employer partners
- Elstree Studios
- BBC
- Sky
- NBCUniversal
- MOBO Awards
Notable
- Opened in 2013 as Elstree University Technical College (Elstree UTC); later rebranded as Elstree Screen Arts Academy (ESA Academy) to reflect its focus on behind-the-scenes screen-industry crafts such as production hair and makeup, lighting and stage management, rather than on-screen media.
- Sits on Studio Way immediately next to Elstree Studios, whose productions include The Crown, Paddington and Strictly Come Dancing — an unusually direct physical link between a UTC and its lead industry partner.
- Its Ofsted history is a rare turnaround: Requires Improvement (2015 and 2017), Good (2019), then Outstanding in every judged category at its January 2025 inspection.
Also known as
Sometimes referred to as ESA Academy.