Highlands School
104%
Capacity
1,650
Pupils
5.7x
Demand
About Highlands School
Highlands School’s Progress 8 score of 0.42 places it well ahead of the Enfield local authority average of 0.09, a gap that marks it out as one of the strongest performers in the borough. It ranks fourth out of 23 secondary schools in Enfield on this measure, putting it in the top 25 per cent nationally. The school is one of only three in the local authority rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and its most recent graded inspection in November 2024 awarded top marks across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. This is a school that has clearly sustained high standards since its previous inspection in 2014, which also judged it Outstanding. With 1,650 pupils on a capacity of 1,589, it is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 1,377 applications for 241 places, and 365 families put it as their first choice.
Academically, the school delivers strong results across both key stages. At GCSE, 81.4 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 61.6 per cent reached the higher grade 5 threshold. The Attainment 8 score is 54.8, and the EBacc average point score is 5.11. A high proportion of pupils — 84.4 per cent — enter the EBacc suite of subjects, and 49.4 per cent achieve the benchmark grade 4 or above across all five pillars. In the sixth form, the value-added score of 0.4 is rated well above average, and the average points per entry of 38.82 equates to a B grade. The best three A-levels average out at a B grade too, with 20.9 per cent of entries achieving AAB or higher. The school ranks 198th in London and 612th nationally.
Parents are overwhelmingly positive, with 90 per cent saying they would recommend the school. Responses to the Ofsted Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, show 90 per cent of parents agreeing or strongly agreeing that their child is happy, and 94 per cent feeling their child is safe. Behaviour is seen as strong, and 87 per cent agree the school has high expectations. The school offers a swimming pool, sports hall, music rooms, science labs, and a sixth-form centre. Sports include swimming, hockey, netball, football, rugby, and cricket, while clubs range from Debate and Drama to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Model UN. The school has a dedicated resourced provision and supports a broad range of SEND needs, including autism, dyslexia, and speech and language difficulties. Given its size, strong results, and oversubscribed status, this is a school that suits families looking for a high-performing, well-regarded secondary with a strong sixth form and a broad extracurricular offer.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | 148 Worlds End Lane, London, Enfield, N21 1QQ |
| Headteacher | Vincent McInerney |
| Local Authority | Enfield |
| Number of Pupils | 1,650 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 17.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,650 / 1,589 (104% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Nov 2024Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 2 Dec 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.42)
612th of 3,141
Nationally
198th of 487
In London
4th of 20
In Enfield
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
41.1
'22/23
36.6
'23/24
38.8
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
2022/2372%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 231 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)72%
- FE college20%
- Sixth form college3%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Not sustained1%
98% 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
2022/2374%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 150 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
16%
Russell Group
22%
Top-third HE
1%
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)74%
- Employment15%
- Not sustained5%
- Further education2%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Other education1%
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- Mathematics42
- Psychology41
- Economics39
- Biology28
- Sociology27
- English Literature26
- Chemistry20
- Computer Studies / Computing16
- Physical Education / Sports Studies15
- Religious Studies15
- Physics13
- Geography12
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.
Ofsted Parent View
409 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed241
1,377
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
365 families put this school as their 1st choice (27% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British32.4%
- White (other)27.6%
- Mixed13.7%
- Asian6.8%
- 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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
4
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
3
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 Highlands 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
148 Worlds End Lane, London
Enfield, N21 1QQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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