Highbury Fields School
69%
Capacity
729
Pupils
3.4x
Demand
About Highbury Fields School
Highbury Fields School is a girls' secondary school in Islington, one of five state secondaries in the borough rated Outstanding by Ofsted. It sits third out of nine similar schools locally when ranked by Progress 8, a measure of how much pupils improve between Year 7 and 11. The top-performing peer in the borough is Central Foundation Boys' School, followed by St Aloysius' College, with St Mary Magdalene Academy, the nearest other Outstanding school at just 0.8 km away, also ahead. The school is led by headteacher Tim Fox and is non-religious. It is significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 462 applications for 137 places, with 131 first-preference applications and 90 first-preference offers made. Over half of its 729 pupils (50.9%) are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average, and the school operates at around 69% of its 1,050 capacity.
Academically, Highbury Fields delivers strong results. Its Progress 8 score of 0.43 is rated 'Above average' and sits comfortably above the Islington local authority average of 0.28. Pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 51.4, and 73.2% secured a grade 4 or above in English and maths (the basics measure). The EBacc average point score was 4.56, with 30.7% of pupils entering the EBacc suite of subjects. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the school's value-added score of -0.35 is classed as 'Below average', and pupils averaged 32.98 points per entry, equivalent to a C+ grade. Just 9.7% of entries were at AAB or higher. The sixth form is small, with 31 pupils in the data, and the school's sixth form provision was judged Outstanding in its most recent Ofsted inspection, alongside leadership and management.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a theatre, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include netball, rugby, gymnastics, swimming, and athletics, while clubs range from Eco Club and Coding to Young Enterprise and Debate. SEND provisions cover eight categories, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication, and Social, Emotional & Mental Health needs. This is a school that suits families looking for a high-performing, inclusive girls' state school in central London, particularly those who value strong academic progress from a diverse intake. The oversubscription rate of 3.37 applicants per place means it is a popular choice, so early application is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Highbury Hill, London, Islington, N5 1AR |
| Headteacher | Tim Fox |
| Local Authority | Islington |
| Number of Pupils | 729 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 50.9% |
| School Capacity | 729 / 1,050 (69% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Sept 2022Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (28 Sept 2022): School remains Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Nov 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.43)
606th of 3,141
Nationally
195th of 487
In London
3rd of 9
In Islington
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
30.5
'22/23
29.1
'23/24
33.0
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
2022/2365%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 40 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
27%
Russell Group
29%
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)65%
- Not sustained15%
- Employment13%
- Other education3%
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
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed137
462
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
131 families put this school as their 1st choice (28% 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
- White British16.6%
- Mixed16.5%
- White (other)15.4%
- Asian11.4%
- Black1.1%
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.
Half 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.
26
Total schools
22
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 Highbury Fields 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
Highbury Hill, London
Islington, N5 1AR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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