Haberdashers' Crayford Academy

About Haberdashers' Crayford Academy

Haberdashers' Crayford Academy sits in the middle of the pack academically within Bexley, but its headline Progress 8 score of -0.13 is below the local authority average of 0.03 for secondary schools. That difference is modest — roughly one month's less progress per subject across KS4 than the typical Bexley pupil — and the school's Progress 8 banding is officially rated as 'Average', so it's not a cause for alarm. What stands out more is the context: Bexley is a strong-performing borough, with three Outstanding secondaries and grammar schools like Chislehurst and Sidcup and Townley Grammar posting Progress 8 scores above 0.66. Ranked 10th out of 17 schools in the LA, Crayford Academy is comfortably mid-table, not struggling but not challenging the top tier. The school's Attainment 8 score of 44.3 and basics pass rate (grade 4 or above in English and maths) of 64% are solid state-school figures, though the basics rate at grade 5 or above drops to 42.7%, reflecting the gap between securing a pass and a strong pass.

The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2022 rated it Good across the board — a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019. Leadership and management, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision all scored Good (grade 2). In the sixth form, the value-added score is -0.09, which falls within the 'Average' band, and the average points per entry is 24.75 (equivalent to a D+ grade). The best three A-levels average out at a C-, with a points total of 25.69. Only 63 pupils were in the sixth-form cohort, so it's a relatively small provision. At KS4, the school's strongest Progress 8 component is maths, where the score is exactly zero — bang on the national average — while English (-0.31) and EBacc subjects (-0.23) lag slightly. The EBacc entry rate is 26.8%, and just 14.6% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above, which is low compared with the grammar-heavy LA.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 180 Year 7 places in 2025/26, it received 567 applications, with 191 first-preference applications and 154 first-preference offers — a ratio of 3.15 applicants per place. That suggests strong local demand, likely driven by its Good rating, broad facilities (including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, and sixth-form centre), and comprehensive SEND provision covering dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With 35.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a significantly disadvantaged intake compared with the LA average, which makes its 'Average' Progress 8 score a respectable outcome. Families considering this school should weigh its solid but not exceptional results against its inclusive ethos, wide range of clubs (from Model UN to DofE), and the convenience of a single-site secondary with a sixth form. It's a pragmatic choice for Bexley families who want a good local comprehensive rather than a selective or faith school.

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