City Heights E-ACT Academy

About City Heights E-ACT Academy

If you're a parent considering City Heights E-ACT Academy, the admissions data for the 2025/26 intake tells a clear story: this is a school that isn't yet in high demand locally. It was not oversubscribed, with 98 applications for 106 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 0.92. Only 19 first-preference families applied, and all of them received an offer. That suggests it's a school where securing a place is straightforward, which can be a relief for families navigating the secondary school process. The school is a mixed, non-religious state secondary in Lambeth, with a headteacher named Marcus Shepherd. It has a capacity of 1,100 but currently only 473 pupils on roll, so it's operating well below capacity. Over half of its students (54.3%) are eligible for free school meals, which is a high proportion and gives a sense of the community it serves.

Academically, the picture is mixed. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, the school was rated Good overall, with Outstanding marks for both behaviour and attitudes and personal development. That's a strong signal about the day-to-day environment. However, the 2023/24 GCSE results tell a more challenging story. The school's Progress 8 score was -0.37, which is below the national average and ranks it 13th out of 15 schools in Lambeth. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is 0.07, so City Heights is lagging behind its peers. The Attainment 8 score was 36.7, and only 27.3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score was 3.38, and just 8.6% of pupils entered the full EBacc. The school's Progress 8 banding is described as 'Below average'.

On the practical side, City Heights offers a decent range of facilities, including science labs, a library, a swimming pool, a theatre, and a sixth form centre. There's a good selection of sports like rugby, netball, and cricket, plus clubs including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Young Enterprise, and Model UN. The school has a formal sixth form, so students can stay on post-16. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Given its current under-subscription and the strong Ofsted behaviour rating, this could be a good fit for families who prioritise a calm, well-ordered environment over top-tier academic results, or for those whose child might benefit from a school with capacity to offer additional support.

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