Ilford County High School
132%
Capacity
1,126
Pupils
3.2x
Demand
About Ilford County High School
Ilford County High School is a boys' state secondary and sixth form in the London Borough of Redbridge, where it ranks fifth out of sixteen schools of the same type on Progress 8. That places it in the local top tier, though it sits behind three higher-scoring peers: Seven Kings School, Loxford School, and Valentines High School. The nearest school with an Outstanding Ofsted rating is Valentines High School, 2.1 kilometres away. Ilford County High itself was rated Good in its most recent inspection in 2021, a downgrade from the Outstanding it held in 2007. The school is significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26 it received 569 applications for 178 places, with 319 of those as first preferences. Headteacher Gavin Barnett leads a school that is larger than its capacity, with 1,126 pupils against an official capacity of 850.
Academically, the school performs well above the national average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.87 is rated 'Well above average' and comfortably exceeds the Redbridge local authority average of 0.59. Attainment 8 sits at 77.4, and 99.4 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school is strongly academic in its curriculum: 98.3 per cent of pupils entered the EBacc, and 91 per cent achieved a grade 4 or above across the full EBacc suite. At A-level, the school's value-added score is -0.11, which is classed as Average, and the average points per entry is 35.89, equivalent to a B- grade. The best three A-levels average out at a B- as well. In maths, Progress 8 is notably high at 1.17, while English sits at 0.52.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, playing fields, science labs, music rooms, art studios, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include hockey, tennis, athletics, and martial arts, while clubs range from Young Enterprise and Model UN to coding, gardening, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND provision covers eight categories, including dyslexia, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and physical disability. With an oversubscription ratio of 3.2 and 155 first-preference offers made, this is a school that families in Redbridge compete hard to get into. It will suit academically able boys who thrive in a structured, high-expectation environment and who want strong EBacc and STEM outcomes, particularly in maths.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Fremantle Road, Ilford, Redbridge, IG6 2JB |
| Headteacher | Gavin Barnett |
| Local Authority | Redbridge |
| Number of Pupils | 1,126 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 11.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,126 / 850 (132% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Sept 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 12 Dec 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.87)
144th of 3,141
Nationally
62nd of 487
In London
5th of 16
In Redbridge
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
44.0
'22/23
38.9
'23/24
35.9
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
2022/2374%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 92 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
55%
Russell Group
60%
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)74%
- Employment7%
- Not sustained7%
- 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed178
569
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
319 families put this school as their 1st choice (56% 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 half 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
- Asian86.2%
- Mixed5.4%
- White (other)0.4%
- White British0.2%
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.
16
Total schools
13
Oversubscribed
12
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 Ilford County High 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
Fremantle Road, Ilford
Redbridge, IG6 2JB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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