Harris Science Academy East London

About Harris Science Academy East London

Harris Science Academy East London sits just above the local authority average for Progress 8, with a score of 0.17 compared to Newham's average of 0.13. That's a modest but meaningful positive difference, and it places the school 9th out of 26 secondary schools in the borough. More striking is the school's recent Ofsted history. In its most recent inspection in 2025, it was judged Outstanding across the board — quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all received the top grade, with sixth form provision rated Good. That's a remarkable turnaround from its previous inspection in 2021, when the school was rated Inadequate overall, with quality of education and sixth form provision both graded 3 (Requires Improvement). The school now joins just eight other Outstanding-rated secondary schools in Newham, and the nearest one, The London Academy of Excellence, is 1.7 km away.

Academically, the school's results paint a nuanced picture. At Key Stage 4, the Attainment 8 score is 54.4, and 75.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, well above the national baseline. The EBacc average point score of 5.28 is solid, and 58.6% of pupils entered the EBacc, with 50.6% achieving a grade 4 or above in the full suite. Progress 8 is positive overall at 0.17, but the breakdown reveals real strengths: English progress is 0.43, maths progress is 0.42, and EBacc progress is 0.39. The open element, however, shows negative progress of -0.39, suggesting that pupils taking non-EBacc subjects may not be making the same gains. At A-level, the picture is more mixed. The value added score is -0.06, which is within the average banding, and the average points per entry is 23.86, equivalent to a D+. Only 5% of entries achieved AAB or higher, and the best three A-levels averaged D+.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 72 places in Year 7, there were 212 applications, a ratio of nearly 3 to 1, and only 29 first-preference offers were made. That tells you demand is strong. Facilities include science labs, music rooms, art studios, a gymnasium, and a sixth form centre, plus a chapel. The sports offering is broad — dance, gymnastics, hockey, football, rugby, cross country, and tennis — and clubs range from gardening and orchestra to Model UN and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND provision is extensive, covering nine categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Parent views are overwhelmingly positive: 91% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 95% felt the school has high expectations. However, SEND support drew a more divided response, with 29% of parents disagreeing that their child receives the support they need. This is a school that has transformed rapidly and is now a popular, high-expectation choice for families in Newham, particularly those whose children are strong in English and maths.

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