Drapers' Academy

About Drapers' Academy

Drapers' Academy is a mixed state secondary school in the London borough of Havering, serving pupils from age 11 to 18. It is one of 19 secondary schools in the local authority, and when ranked by Progress 8 scores, it sits 11th, placing it in the bottom half of Havering's state secondaries. For context, the top-performing schools in the area are Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School, The Campion School, and Harris Academy Rainham, all of which achieved significantly higher Progress 8 scores. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Redden Court School, 2.6 kilometres away. Drapers' Academy itself holds a Good rating from its most recent graded inspection in March 2025, a grade it has maintained consistently across its previous inspection as well. The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 301 applications for 198 places, with 140 of those coming from first-preference families.

Academically, Drapers' Academy produces results that are broadly in line with the national average, though they fall below the Havering local authority average. Its Progress 8 score is -0.13, compared with the LA average of 0.11, placing the school in the bottom 50 nationally for this measure. Attainment 8 sits at 41.7, and 54.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is relatively high at 59.6%, though only 29% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the school's value-added score is -0.11, with a points per entry of 30.31, equating to an average grade of C. The sixth form is rated Good by Ofsted, and the school has a progress banding of Average for its post-16 students. These figures suggest a solid, if not standout, academic profile, particularly for a school serving a cohort where 43.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.

The school is well equipped with facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, science labs, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. It offers a broad range of sports and clubs, from rowing and martial arts to chess and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND provision covers eight areas, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Parent View responses, based on 220 respondents, show strong satisfaction: 83% would recommend the school, and 92% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child does well there. However, only 66% felt that SEND children receive the support they need, and 20% disagreed that bullying is dealt with quickly. Drapers' Academy suits families looking for a large, inclusive secondary with a Good Ofsted rating, a strong sixth form, and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, particularly those who value a school that reflects the local community's diversity.

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