Schools by area › Barking and Dagenham › The Sydney Russell School
The Sydney Russell School
All-through · Mixed · Ages 4–18 · Academy
Parsloes Avenue, Dagenham RM9 5QT · sydneyrussellschool.com · 020 3959 9900
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- May 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 51.2
- average Attainment 8 score. Barking and Dagenham 48.4, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 0.85 mi
- 1.36 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Barking and Dagenham Council
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 2,568
- 96% of 2,670 places
- Local authority
- Barking and Dagenham
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Nursery class
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 27.2%
- First language not English
- 33.2%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Partnership Learning
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 0.85 mi (1.36 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 1.04 mi (1.67 km). Source: Barking and Dagenham Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 361 families put the school first and 357 places were offered; 70% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 357 | 361 | 1▲ | 70% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 359 | 321 | 0.9 | 83% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 356 | 423 | 1.2▲ | 65% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 359 | 428 | 1.2▲ | 69% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 359 | 497 | 1.4▲ | 55% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 0.85 mi1.36 km | |
| September 2025 | 1.04 mi1.67 km | |
| September 2024 | 0.75 mi1.20 km | |
| Reception | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | 0.92 mi1.48 km | |
How far from the school the child given the last place under the distance rule lives.
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 51.2, and 52.5% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Barking and Dagenham it was 48.4, and across England 46.
In 2024/25, 83% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 7% the higher standard. Across Barking and Dagenham it was 67%, and across England 62%.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (37.3 points per entry).
Key stage 2 results
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲83% | 62% | ||
| ●7% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●108 | 106 | ||
| ▲108 | 105 | ||
| ▲109 | 105 | ||
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲51.2 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲52.5% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲68.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲72.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.79 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 48.8 | +12.3 |
| Sixth form college | 3 | −1 |
| Further education | 42.6 | −9.1 |
| Other education | 0.6 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 0.9 | +0.3 |
| Employment | 0.3 | −0.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3 | −2 |
| Activity not captured | 0.9 | 0 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 133 students | B- (37.3) | Average +0.10 | |
| 133 students | B- (38) | Above average +0.15 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 84 | B- (37.7) | +0.03 |
| 2022/23 | 93 | B- (38.3) | — |
| 2021/22 | 102 | B- (37.5) | — |
| 2018/19 | 83 | C+ (33.8) | -0.08 |
| 2017/18 | 94 | C+ (32.6) | +0.01 |
| 2016/17 | 88 | C+ (32.3) | +0.32 |
| 2015/16 | 104 | C+ (32) | +0.33 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 59.6 | −22.8 |
| Further and other education | 3.3 | +2.4 |
| Further education | 1.1 | — |
| Other education | 2.2 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 9 | +7 |
| Employment | 13.5 | +5.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.9 | +2 |
| Activity not captured | 6.7 | +5.7 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Sydney Russell School on 12 May 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard
- Achievement: Strong standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Exceptional
- Early years: Strong standard
- Post-16 provision: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Strong standard
- Inspected
- 12 May 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Strong standard |
| Achievement | Strong standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Exceptional |
| Early years | Strong standard |
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Sept 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Sept 2021Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Good Early years Good Sixth form Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
May 2013Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Nov 2008Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
74% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (86 replies, to 5 September 2022).
- Recommend
- 74%
- Replies
- 86
- 3% · 5 Sept 2022
based on the 74% who raised concerns
based on the 44% who had a child bullied
based on 10 parents (12%) with SEND