Lift Aylward
94%
Capacity
1,401
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Lift Aylward
Lift Aylward, a large mixed secondary school in Enfield, holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained since its last graded inspection in 2012. The school’s most recent ungraded inspection in 2021 confirmed it remains Good, with leadership and management also rated Good. However, the most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of -0.28, which places the school in the ‘Below average’ band nationally. This means that, on average, pupils achieve nearly a third of a grade less per subject across eight GCSEs than students with similar starting points nationally. In the local context, this score sits well below the Enfield local authority average Progress 8 of 0.09, and ranks Lift Aylward 15th out of 20 similar schools in the borough. While the school is not among the top performers locally, its Good Ofsted rating suggests that inspectors found the quality of education and pupil development to be solid, even if exam results don’t yet match the highest-performing peers.
Looking more closely at the 2023/24 GCSE results, the school’s Attainment 8 score stands at 38.8, and 60.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, with 35.3% reaching the stronger grade 5 threshold. The EBacc average point score is 3.64, and while 72.3% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, only 16.5% achieved a grade 5 or above in it. At A-level, the picture is brighter: the school’s value-added score of 0.47 is rated ‘Well above average’, meaning sixth-form students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally. The average points per entry is 33.91 (equivalent to a C+ grade), and 7.1% of entries achieved AAB or higher. This suggests that while GCSE outcomes are below the national average, the sixth form is a genuine strength, helping students catch up and excel in their post-16 studies.
The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 359 applications for 213 places, with 166 first-preference offers made. It has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 46%, and offers a wide range of SEND support, including for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social and emotional mental health. Facilities are strong for a state school, with a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and a sixth form centre. Clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, coding, and a range of sports from rugby to dance. This is a school that suits families who value a broad, inclusive environment with strong sixth-form progress, and who are comfortable with GCSE results that are below the local average but supported by a Good Ofsted rating and a clear focus on personal development.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Windmill Road, London, Enfield, N18 1NB |
| Headteacher | Joseph Lawlor |
| Local Authority | Enfield |
| Number of Pupils | 1,401 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 46.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,401 / 1,485 (94% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
2 Jul 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (2 Jul 2021): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 11 Apr 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.28)
2205th of 3,141
Nationally
422nd of 487
In London
15th of 20
In Enfield
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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
30.6
'22/23
28.7
'23/24
33.9
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
2022/2354%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 231 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)54%
- FE college20%
- Sixth form college10%
- Not sustained9%
- Employment3%
88% 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
2022/2372%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 95 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
10%
Russell Group
10%
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)72%
- Not sustained12%
- Employment9%
- Further education2%
- Apprenticeship1%
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- Psychology22
- English Literature16
- Mathematics16
- Biology13
- Sociology13
- Business Studies:Single10
- Chemistry10
- Computer Studies / Computing7
- Film Studies6
- History5
- Turkish5
- Art and Design4
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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed213
359
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
166 families put this school as their 1st choice (46% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White (other)33.4%
- Asian6.6%
- Mixed5.7%
- White British5.4%
- Black2.8%
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.
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.
20
Total schools
17
Oversubscribed
15
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 Lift Aylward
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
Windmill Road, London
Enfield, N18 1NB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
