Lift Bexleyheath
78%
Capacity
1,487
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Lift Bexleyheath
Lift Bexleyheath is a large, mixed state secondary in the London borough of Bexley, currently educating 1,487 pupils against a capacity of 1,900. That leaves some headroom, but the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, it received 700 applications for 296 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.36, with 171 first-preference offers made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 26.5%, well above the national average for secondary schools, which typically sits around 20-22%. This suggests a diverse intake with a significant number of families facing economic disadvantage. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Rubeka Luthfa. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2021, rated it Good across all categories including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — a notable turnaround from its previous Inadequate rating in 2018.
Academically, the picture is mixed. At Key Stage 4, the school’s Progress 8 score is -0.42, which is below the national average and ranks it 13th out of 17 similar schools in Bexley, placing it in the bottom 50 nationally. The Attainment 8 score is 41.4, and the basics measure (grade 5 or above in English and maths) sits at 45.6%, compared with 67.6% at grade 4 or above. The EBacc entry rate is very low at 3.9%, and the EBacc average point score is 3.31. In the local context, Bexley’s average Progress 8 is 0.03, so Lift Bexleyheath sits significantly below that. At Key Stage 5, the picture is more encouraging: the value-added score is -0.08, which is banded as Average, and the average points per entry is 31.12, equivalent to a C grade. The best three A-levels average out at a B-, with 20% of entries achieving AAB or higher.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a Sixth Form Centre, theatre, sports hall, astro turf, and playing fields, plus clubs like Orchestra, DofE, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. Sports on offer include netball, athletics, cricket, and martial arts. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and physical disabilities, among others. For families considering Lift Bexleyheath, it’s a school that has improved rapidly from a low base and now offers a Good-rated environment with a strong sixth form. However, the below-average Progress 8 and low EBacc uptake mean it may not suit families prioritising high academic selectivity. Its oversubscription suggests it is a popular local choice, particularly for those who value its inclusive intake and broad extracurricular offer.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Woolwich Road, Bexleyheath, Bexley, DA6 7DA |
| Headteacher | Rubeka Luthfa |
| Local Authority | Bexley |
| Number of Pupils | 1,487 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 26.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,487 / 1,900 (78% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Jul 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 12 Sept 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.42)
2487th of 3,141
Nationally
450th of 487
In London
13th of 16
In Bexley
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
33.4
'22/23
29.1
'23/24
31.1
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
2022/2342%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 69 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
7%
Russell Group
8%
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)42%
- Employment19%
- Not sustained17%
- Apprenticeship14%
- Further 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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed296
700
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
171 families put this school as their 1st choice (24% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British48.6%
- Asian11.6%
- White (other)10.4%
- Mixed9.4%
- Black0.7%
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.
75% 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.
15
Total schools
14
Oversubscribed
10
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 Bexleyheath
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
Woolwich Road, Bexleyheath
Bexley, DA6 7DA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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