City of London Academy, Shoreditch Park
76%
Capacity
861
Pupils
3.4x
Demand
About City of London Academy, Shoreditch Park
City of London Academy, Shoreditch Park stands out in Hackney for its academic performance, with a Progress 8 score of 0.68 that places it well above the local authority average of 0.52. This means pupils here make significantly more progress between the end of primary school and their GCSEs than their peers across the borough. The school ranks 7th out of 16 secondary schools in Hackney on this measure, putting it in the top half locally and in the top 10% nationally. Its Attainment 8 score of 58.9 is strong, and a high 86.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, compared with 69.3% at the higher grade 5 threshold. The school also has a high EBacc entry rate of 79.5%, with over half of pupils achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above.
The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025 judged it Outstanding across all areas, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. This is a significant upgrade from its previous Good rating in 2019, and it is one of five Outstanding secondary schools in Hackney. In the sixth form, the school achieves a B grade average across best three A-levels, with a points per entry of 39.34, though the value-added score of -0.28 is in the average band, suggesting slightly less progress than expected from prior attainment. Parent views are broadly positive: 77% would recommend the school, and 90% agree or strongly agree that their child does well there, while 89% feel their child is happy.
The school is heavily oversubscribed, with 580 applications for 169 places in 2025/26, a ratio of 3.43 applicants per place, and 130 first-preference offers made. It serves a diverse community, with 58.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Facilities are extensive, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, astro turf, and science labs, with sports ranging from rowing to rugby. SEND provision covers a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. This is a school that delivers strong academic progress for a broad intake, and its sixth form offers solid A-level outcomes, making it a strong choice for families in Hackney seeking a high-performing, inclusive secondary.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Hyde Road, London, Hackney, N1 5JU |
| Headteacher | Holly Arles |
| Local Authority | Hackney |
| Number of Pupils | 861 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 58.1% |
| School Capacity | 861 / 1,140 (76% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Jan 2025Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 4 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.68)
303rd of 3,141
Nationally
115th of 487
In London
7th of 16
In Hackney
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Ofsted Parent View
136 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed169
580
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
135 families put this school as their 1st choice (23% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White (other)19.7%
- White British15.1%
- Mixed11.7%
- Asian5.0%
- Black3.0%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
44
Total schools
36
Oversubscribed
32
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About City of London Academy, Shoreditch Park
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Hyde Road, London
Hackney, N1 5JU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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