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Highams Park School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

34 Handsworth Avenue, Highams Park, London E4 9PJ · highamsparkschool.co.uk · 020 8527 4051

On the mapSearch near E4 9PJ

Overview

Ofsted
Good
2019 framework · inspected May 2024
GCSEs, 2024/25
47.5
average Attainment 8 score. Waltham Forest 45.3, England 46
Last distance offered
0.92 mi
1.48 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Waltham Forest Council
Demand for places
1.0
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,592
94% of 1,700 places
Local authority
Waltham Forest
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
24.6%
First language not English
33.6%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Highams Park Academy Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 0.92 mi (1.48 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 1.55 mi (2.49 km). Source: Waltham Forest Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 231 families put the school first and 229 places were offered; 84% 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: 245 (Places 234)245September 2023: 236 (Places 236)236September 2024: 190 (Places 232)190September 2025: 207 (Places 237)207September 2026: 231 (Places 229)231Places 229
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262292311▲84%
September 2025Sept 20252372070.996%
September 2024Sept 20242321900.892%
September 2023Sept 2023236236186%
September 2022Sept 20222342451▲78%

Last distance offered

Year 7Distance
September 20260.92 mi1.48 km
September 20251.55 mi2.49 km
September 20241.18 mi1.90 km
September 20220.93 mi1.50 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 47.5, and 44.9% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Waltham Forest it was 45.3, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (36 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: 47.5 (England 46.3)47.52017/18: 48.2 (England 46.5)48.22018/19: 47.1 (England 46.7)47.12021/22: 51.7 (England 48.8)51.72022/23: 49.0 (England 46.3)49.02023/24: 50.0 (England 45.9)50.02024/25: 47.5 (England 46.0)47.5England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
●47.546.0
●44.9%45.4%
●66.7%64.8%
▲51.3%40.5%
▲4.404.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form62.2−5.6
Sixth form college7.40
Further education21.3+7
Other education0.40
Apprenticeship1.3−0.4
Employment0.4−2.6
Not in a lasting destination3.9+1.3
Activity not captured3+0.4

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: 25.1 (England 30.5)C-2016/17: 27.3 (England 31.1)C-2017/18: 27.8 (England 32.1)C-2018/19: 31.8 (England 32.9)C+2021/22: 37.9 (England 37.9)B-2022/23: 35.0 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 33.3 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 36.0 (England 35.0)B-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
131 studentsB- (36)Above average +0.26
131 studentsB- (36)Above average +0.27
27 studentsDist+ (38.1)Above average +0.48
17 studentsDist- (32.3)Average -0.18
17.2%AAB or better
92.9%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24173C+ (33.3)+0.20
2022/23137C+ (35)—
2021/22160B- (37.9)—
2018/19154C+ (31.8)+0.26
2017/18170C- (27.8)+0.09
2016/17178C- (27.3)-0.01
2015/16223C- (25.1)-0.07

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University74.2+9.9
Further and other education1.1−3
Further education0.6−1.4
Other education0.6−1.4
Apprenticeship2.8−2.8
Employment10.7−4.1
Not in a lasting destination6.2−0.4
Activity not captured5.1+0.5

Ofsted

Highams Park School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 22 May 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Good
Inspected
22 May 2024
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formOutstanding

Previously: Concerns, ungraded inspection, Mar 2023

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Mar 2023Ungraded inspectionConcerns
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Jun 2013Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
  • Mar 2009Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesGood

What parents said

72% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (168 replies, to 7 April 2025).

Recommend
72%
Replies
168
11% · 7 Apr 2025
Child is happy at school▼75% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▼76% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▼74% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▼72% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▼75% agreeEngland 88%
Told what child will learn▼70% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing▼82% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects▲94% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▼78% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▼59% agreeEngland 80%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼60% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 78% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▼45% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 42% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼28% agreeEngland 68%

based on 44 parents (26%) with SEND

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