Haberdashers' Borough Academy

About Haberdashers' Borough Academy

Haberdashers' Borough Academy is a mixed state secondary in Southwark with 917 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,150, so it is not yet full. But demand is strong: for 174 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, it received 606 total applications, an oversubscription ratio of 3.48. Of those, 169 were first-preference applications, and 139 first-preference offers were made. The school serves a notably diverse intake — 47.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average of around 23% and significantly higher than the Southwark secondary average of roughly 30%. This suggests a community with higher-than-average levels of disadvantage, and the admissions data reflects genuine local demand rather than a selective intake. Headteacher Thomas Howells leads a school that, in its most recent Ofsted inspection, was rated Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding — a strong signal for parents weighing up options in a borough with 12 outstanding-rated secondaries.

Academically, the school’s Progress 8 score of -0.23 is below average nationally, ranking it 19th out of 19 schools in Southwark on this measure and placing it in the bottom 50% nationally. This means that, on average, pupils achieve slightly less than expected given their starting points. The Attainment 8 score of 48.6 is modest, and the basics measure — the proportion achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs — stands at 47.7%, compared with 71.5% at grade 4 or above. The EBacc average point score is 4.6, and 80.2% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, though only 29.1% achieved grade 5 or above across all components. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 is +0.46, so the school sits well below that benchmark. However, the Ofsted report noted that behaviour and attitudes are Good, and personal development is Good, suggesting a supportive environment even if raw outcomes are not yet competitive with the strongest local peers like Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, science labs, a sixth form centre, astro turf, theatre, dining hall, and ICT suite. Sports provision covers cross country, football, badminton, swimming, tennis, and basketball, while clubs range from Debate and Model UN to DofE, choir, gardening, and Young Enterprise. SEND support is extensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate and profound learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language needs, visual impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a practical choice for families whose children require additional support. The school is oversubscribed, so parents should be prepared to apply early and list it as a strong preference. It will suit families who value a diverse, inclusive community and are comfortable with a school that is still building its academic track record, particularly those prioritising strong pastoral care and leadership over headline exam results.

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