Cumberland Community School
About Cumberland Community School
Cumberland Community School is a large secondary in Newham, currently home to 1,346 pupils against a capacity of 1,500, meaning it is not yet full but clearly in high demand. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 763 applications for just 187 places, an oversubscription ratio of over 4 to 1, and only 78 first-preference offers were made. That level of competition signals a school that local families are actively prioritising. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 54.9%, well above the national average for secondary schools, reflecting the diverse and economically mixed community the school serves. Under headteacher Ekhlas Rahman, the school has shifted its Ofsted rating from Requires Improvement in 2016 to Good in its most recent graded inspection in 2022, with inspectors awarding Good across all five categories: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Sept 2022Source: Ofsted, 10 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:30
Source: cumberlandcst.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cumberland Community School
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications