Schools by area › Islington › City of London Academy, Highgate Hill
City of London Academy, Highgate Hill
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Free school
Holland Walk, Duncombe Road, Archway, London N19 3EU · highgatehill.cola.org.uk · 020 7281 3536
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected May 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 40.3
- average Attainment 8 score. Islington 47, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.7
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 641
- 71% of 900 places
- Local authority
- Islington
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 63%
- First language not English
- 43.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 69 families put the school first and 102 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 102 | 69 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 90 | 72 | 0.8 | 99% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 78 | 57 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 114 | 80 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 134 | 128 | 1 | 83% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 40.3, and 33% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Islington it was 47, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade A- (45.6 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼40.3 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼33.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼57.4% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲44.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.64 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 100460)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 50.9 | +26.4 |
| Sixth form college | 9.8 | +3.2 |
| Further education | 29.5 | −24.3 |
| Employment | 0.9 | −2.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.1 | −0.4 |
| Activity not captured | 1.8 | −2 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 students | A- (45.6) | Well above average +0.77 | |
| 25 students | A- (45.6) | Well above average +0.77 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 27 | A- (46) | +0.78 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
Left in 2023/24
| University | 63 |
|---|---|
| Other education | 3.7 |
| Employment | 18.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.4 |
| Activity not captured | 7.4 |
Ofsted
City of London Academy, Highgate Hill was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 15 May 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 15 May 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Outstanding |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Jan 2022
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 100460), which Ofsted links to this one.
September 2019 to November 2025
Jan 2022Requires improvement
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Mar 2014Good
Leadership and management Good Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 100460)
What parents said
65% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (71 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 65%
- Replies
- 71
- 11% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 80% who raised concerns
based on the 46% who had a child bullied
based on 16 parents (23%) with SEND