Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich
88%
Capacity
837
Pupils
3.4x
Demand
About Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich
Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich posts a Progress 8 score of 0.4, which is just a shade below the Southwark local authority average of 0.46 for secondary schools. That might sound like a small gap, but it places the school 11th out of 19 schools in the borough, or around the 58th percentile. In a London context, it ranks 205th out of 487 secondaries, and nationally it sits in the top 21% of all schools. So while it isn't the top performer in Southwark, it is comfortably above the national average and well within the top quarter of schools across England. The school is also one of 12 Outstanding-rated secondaries in the borough, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 gave it top marks across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. That's a clean sweep of Outstanding grades.
Academically, the school's strengths are clear in the detail. Its Attainment 8 score is 53.7, and 77% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, with 61.8% reaching the higher grade 5 threshold. The English Progress 8 score is notably strong at 0.69, meaning pupils make nearly three-quarters of a grade more progress in English than the national average. Maths progress is also positive at 0.33. The EBacc average point score is 5.08, and 83.6% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. At A-level, the school's value-added score is 0.17, which is rated as Average, with a best three A-levels grade of B- and an average points per entry of 31.68, equivalent to a C+. The sixth form is small, with 48 pupils in the data, but it holds an Outstanding rating from Ofsted.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 139 places in 2025/26, it received 470 applications, a ratio of 3.38 applicants per place, and 80 of those were first-preference offers from 84 first-preference applications. That tells you it is a popular choice among local families. Facilities are generous for a state school, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, Astro Turf, tennis courts, and a sixth-form centre. The school also has a chapel, which is unusual for a non-religious school. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 43.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse and disadvantaged intake, yet still delivers above-average progress. It is a good fit for families who want a girls-only environment through to 18, with strong academic results and a wide range of clubs including DofE, debating, orchestra, and eco club.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Homestall Road, London, Southwark, SE22 0NR |
| Headteacher | Jo Young |
| Local Authority | Southwark |
| Number of Pupils | 837 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 43.4% |
| School Capacity | 837 / 950 (88% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Dec 2023Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 29 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.40)
656th of 3,141
Nationally
205th of 487
In London
11th of 19
In Southwark
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
34.6
'22/23
31.9
'23/24
31.7
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2355%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 62 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
11%
Russell Group
14%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)55%
- Not sustained21%
- Employment15%
- Further education5%
- Other education2%
- Apprenticeship2%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed139
470
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
84 families put this school as their 1st choice (18% 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 75% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian14.8%
- Mixed14.0%
- White British12.3%
- White (other)7.3%
- Black3.9%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% 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.
25
Total schools
23
Oversubscribed
20
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 Girls' Academy East Dulwich
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
Homestall Road, London
Southwark, SE22 0NR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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