Acland Burghley School

About Acland Burghley School

Acland Burghley School is a large, mixed secondary in Camden that is clearly in high demand. With 1,218 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,200, it is technically slightly over capacity, and the 2025/26 admissions data confirms this: the school received 654 applications for 175 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.74. Of those, 218 families put it as their first preference, and 156 first-preference offers were made, meaning roughly 72% of first-choice applicants secured a place. The school serves a notably diverse intake: 36.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average for secondary schools (around 23-24%), reflecting the inner-London context. The school is non-religious and has no formal faith designation, which will appeal to families seeking a genuinely comprehensive, community-focused secondary. It also has a dedicated sixth form, so pupils can stay on post-16.

Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. This marks a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2016, when it was rated Requires Improvement. At GCSE, the school’s Progress 8 score is -0.3, which is below the national average of 0 but sits just above the Camden local authority average of -0.32. This places Acland Burghley 9th out of 12 state secondaries in Camden on this measure, and in the bottom 50% nationally (71st percentile). Attainment 8 stands at 50.4, and 70.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 42.3%, with 35.7% achieving the qualification. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.19, classed as Below average, with an average point score per entry of 31.7 (equivalent to a C+ grade). The best three A-levels averaged a C+ grade as well.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including science labs, a theatre, music rooms, art studios, a sixth form centre, and outdoor sports provision with astro turf, tennis courts, and playing fields. Sports on offer include football, basketball, netball, rugby, cricket, swimming, and cross country, and there are clubs such as debate, science club, eco club, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health support, plus a resourced provision. For families considering Acland Burghley, the key takeaway is that it is a genuinely comprehensive school with a diverse, high-FSM intake, strong demand from local families, and a leadership team that has driven improvement from Requires Improvement to Good with an Outstanding leadership rating. It suits families who value a mixed, inclusive environment and are comfortable with academic results that are broadly in line with the Camden average, rather than pushing for top-tier selective outcomes. The oversubscription means early application is essential.

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