Harris Academy Rainham
N/A
Capacity
901
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Harris Academy Rainham
Harris Academy Rainham is a mixed, non-denominational secondary school in Havering for pupils aged 11 to 16, currently home to 901 students. With 23.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, its intake sits above the national average for disadvantage, reflecting a genuinely comprehensive mix. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 320 applications for 174 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.84. Of those, 172 were first-preference applications, and 163 first-preference offers were made, suggesting that most families who put it top got in. The school is led by headteacher Gareth Stananought and, after a previous Requires Improvement rating in 2015, has been rated Good by Ofsted since its graded inspection in 2019, with an ungraded visit in October 2024 confirming that standards are being maintained.
Academically, Harris Academy Rainham is a strong performer. Its Progress 8 score of 0.56 is well above average nationally and significantly higher than the Havering local authority average of 0.11, placing it 3rd out of 17 schools in the borough and in the top 25% nationally. Pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 52.7, with 73% securing a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, and 56.7% achieving grade 5 or better. The school also pushes the English Baccalaureate: 72.5% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, though only 29.2% achieved a grade 4 or above across all components. Progress in English (0.55) and maths (0.38) is positive, and the school’s EBacc average point score of 4.79 reflects solid, consistent outcomes across the curriculum.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, playing fields, and a sixth form centre, though it does not have a sixth form of its own. SEND provision covers seven areas including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication needs, and Social, Emotional & Mental Health support. Parent View responses from 112 families show 82% would recommend the school, with 86% agreeing or strongly agreeing that their child is happy, and 84% that their child feels safe. However, only 54% agreed that SEND children receive the support they need, and 30% disagreed — a notable split. The school suits families who value strong academic progress in a diverse, oversubscribed setting, and who are comfortable with a school that has improved significantly from a previous Requires Improvement baseline.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Lambs Lane South, Rainham, Havering, RM13 9XD |
| Headteacher | Gareth Stananought |
| Local Authority | Havering |
| Number of Pupils | 901 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 23.9% |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
9 Oct 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (9 Oct 2024): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 16 Jun 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.56)
420th of 3,141
Nationally
148th of 487
In London
3rd of 17
In Havering
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.
Ofsted Parent View
112 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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed174
320
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
172 families put this school as their 1st choice (54% 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 half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British44.3%
- Asian16.7%
- White (other)11.2%
- Mixed9.4%
- Black1.3%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half 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.
6
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
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 Harris Academy Rainham
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
Lambs Lane South, Rainham
Havering, RM13 9XD
Lambs Lane South, Rainham
Havering, RM13 9XD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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