Open the map

Schools by area › Tower Hamlets › Swanlea School

Swanlea School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Community school

31 Brady Street, Whitechapel, London E1 5DJ · swanlea.co.uk · 020 7375 3267

On the mapSearch near E1 5DJ

Overview

Ofsted
Outstanding
2019 framework · inspected Apr 2024
GCSEs, 2024/25
56.9
average Attainment 8 score. Tower Hamlets 47.4, England 46
Last distance offered
0.71 mi
1.14 km · Year 7, September 2025 entry · Tower Hamlets Council
Demand for places
1.4
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,253
99% of 1,260 places
Local authority
Tower Hamlets
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
42.1%
First language not English
19.3%
School census 2025/26

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2025, the last place offered on distance went to a home 0.71 mi (1.14 km) from the school. Its other admission rules have their own figures. Source: Tower Hamlets Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 276 families put the school first and 192 places were offered; 68% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

Demand for places

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 312 (Places 199)312September 2023: 352 (Places 195)352September 2024: 329 (Places 198)329September 2025: 308 (Places 194)308September 2026: 276 (Places 192)276Places 192
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261922761.4▲68%
September 2025Sept 20251943081.6▲59%
September 2024Sept 20241983291.7▲56%
September 2023Sept 20231953521.8▲52%
September 2022Sept 20221993121.6▲60%

Last distance offered

Year 7 – Band A: DistanceDistance
September 20250.71 mi1.14 km
Year 7 – Band B: DistanceDistance
September 20250.80 mi1.28 km
September 20240.49 mi0.79 km
Year 7 – Band C: DistanceDistance
September 20250.51 mi0.81 km
September 20240.44 mi0.70 km
Year 7 – Band D: DistanceDistance
September 20250.78 mi1.25 km
September 20240.57 mi0.91 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 56.9, and 63.8% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Tower Hamlets it was 47.4, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (35.9 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 47.8 (England 46.3)47.82017/18: 48.8 (England 46.5)48.82018/19: 54.2 (England 46.7)54.22021/22: 57.1 (England 48.8)57.12022/23: 58.7 (England 46.3)58.72023/24: 56.1 (England 45.9)56.12024/25: 56.9 (England 46.0)56.9England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲56.946.0
▲63.8%45.4%
▲81.2%64.8%
▲71.5%40.5%
▲5.254.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form75.6+1.1
Further education16.1−1.2
Other education2+1.5
Not in a lasting destination4.9+2.5
Activity not captured1.5+0.5

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 32.0 (England 30.5)C+2016/17: 33.7 (England 31.1)C+2017/18: 30.6 (England 32.1)C2018/19: 31.1 (England 32.9)C2021/22: 42.0 (England 37.9)B+2022/23: 37.0 (England 34.2)B-2023/24: 34.5 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 35.9 (England 35.0)B-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
100 studentsB- (35.9)Below average -0.21
100 studentsB- (35.9)Below average -0.21
25 studentsDist (33.6)Average +0.15
6%AAB or better
97.2%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2490C+ (34.5)-0.10
2022/2386B- (37)—
2021/2268B+ (42)—
2018/1985C (31.1)+0.24
2017/1848C (30.6)+0.06
2016/1779C+ (33.7)+0.15
2015/1673C+ (32)+0.39

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University59.7−6.3
Further and other education2.4—
Further education0.8—
Other education1.6—
Apprenticeship8.1+7.1
Employment9.7−6.8
Not in a lasting destination15.3+0.9
Activity not captured4.8+2.7

Ofsted

Swanlea School was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 24 April 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Outstanding
Inspected
24 Apr 2024
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Sixth formOutstanding

Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Jul 2013

Earlier inspections

Before September 2019

  • Jul 2013Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
  • Nov 2008Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding

What parents said

92% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (25 replies, to 7 April 2025).

Recommend
92%
Replies
25
2% · 7 Apr 2025
Child is happy at school●88% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▲96% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▲96% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▲92% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▲92% agreeEngland 88%
Told what child will learn▲88% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing●84% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects▼88% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▼84% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▼76% agreeEngland 80%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲81% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 64% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲56% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 36% who had a child bullied

Also near this school

All schools in Tower Hamlets