Highams Park School
91%
Capacity
1,547
Pupils
2.7x
Demand
About Highams Park School
Highams Park School is a large, mixed secondary in Waltham Forest, currently home to 1,547 pupils against a capacity of 1,700, so there is some headroom but not much. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 23.5%, which is notably above the national average for secondary schools and reflects the diverse, urban intake typical of this part of north-east London. Demand is strong: for entry in 2025/26, the school received 649 applications for 237 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.74, and 199 of those 207 first-preference applicants were offered a spot. That suggests a school that local families are actively choosing, even if it isn't the most selective or oversubscribed in the borough. The school has no religious character and is non-selective, so its intake is genuinely comprehensive, drawing from a wide catchment.
Academically, Highams Park performs solidly. Its Progress 8 score of 0.08 is above the Waltham Forest average of -0.07, meaning pupils here make slightly more progress than peers across the local authority. Attainment 8 sits at 50, and 73% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 55.2% reaching the stronger grade 5 threshold. The EBacc average point score is 4.49, and 38.3% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. At A-level, the school's value-added score is 0.2, classed as above average, with an average grade of C+ per entry and 11.1% of pupils achieving at least AAB in two facilitating subjects. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, the school was rated Good overall, with its sixth form judged Outstanding — a clear strength that sets it apart from many local competitors.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, and dedicated sixth form and music spaces. Sports provision is broad, covering hockey, rugby, cricket, and athletics, while extracurricular options range from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Model UN to coding, chess, and Young Enterprise. SEND support is comprehensive, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. For families weighing up options in Waltham Forest, Highams Park offers a strong all-round package: good GCSE and A-level outcomes, an Outstanding sixth form, and a genuinely inclusive intake. It suits parents who want a large, diverse school with proven academic progress and a wide range of activities, rather than a small or selective alternative.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | 34 Handsworth Avenue, London, Waltham Forest, E4 9PJ |
| Headteacher | Nigel Armsby |
| Local Authority | Waltham Forest |
| Number of Pupils | 1,547 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 23.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,547 / 1,700 (91% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 3 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.08)
1344th of 3,141
Nationally
336th of 487
In London
7th of 19
In Waltham Forest
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
37.9
'22/23
35.0
'23/24
33.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2362%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 229 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)62%
- FE college24%
- Sixth form college6%
- Not sustained4%
- Employment2%
95% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2368%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 184 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
21%
Russell Group
26%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)68%
- Employment14%
- Not sustained6%
- Other education3%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further education2%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Sociology35
- Biology34
- Business Studies:Single32
- Psychology27
- Mathematics25
- English Literature22
- Media/Film/Tv Studies21
- Economics16
- History16
- Chemistry14
- Computer Studies / Computing14
- Government and Politics13
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed237
649
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
207 families put this school as their 1st choice (32% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:15
Source: highamsparkschool.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British26.4%
- White (other)20.6%
- Asian19.6%
- Mixed15.0%
- Black2.5%
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.
12
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
8
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 Highams Park School
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
34 Handsworth Avenue, London
Waltham Forest, E4 9PJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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