Highgate Wood Secondary School
About Highgate Wood Secondary School
If you’re a parent weighing up Highgate Wood Secondary School, the first thing you’ll notice is that it’s in high demand. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 886 applications for 229 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.87. That means nearly four families applied for every spot, and of the 215 who put it as their first preference, 161 were offered a place. That level of competition suggests a strong local reputation, though it’s worth noting that the school doesn’t publish a parent-view survey score, so you’ll need to rely on other signals. The school is a mixed, non-religious state secondary in Haringey, with a headteacher, Patrick Cozier, leading a large roll of 1,543 pupils — slightly above its official capacity of 1,465. Around a fifth of pupils (20.5%) are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and gives a sense of the school’s inclusive intake.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
18 Nov 2021Latest monitoring visit (18 Nov 2021): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 16 Dec 2011. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:15
Source: hws.haringey.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Highgate Wood Secondary 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications