Lister Community School
97%
Capacity
1,497
Pupils
2.9x
Demand
About Lister Community School
Lister Community School in Newham was rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. The school's Progress 8 score, which measures pupil progress from the end of primary school to GCSEs, stands at -0.31, placing it in the 'Below average' banding nationally. This means that, on average, pupils achieve slightly less progress than their peers across England. Within Newham, where the average Progress 8 score is a positive 0.13, Lister ranks 16th out of 21 similar schools. The Attainment 8 score, which reflects the average grade achieved across eight key subjects, is 45, and 44.9% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, the government's 'strong pass' benchmark.
Looking closer at the data, the school's strongest area is English, where the Progress 8 score is -0.05, very close to the national average. Maths and the EBacc subjects show more significant negative scores of -0.48 and -0.56 respectively. The EBacc average point score is 4.02, and while 68.3% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, only 16% achieved a grade 5 or above in it. The school's parent view survey, based on 40 responses, shows a mixed picture: 78% of parents would recommend the school, and 76% agree or strongly agree that their child does well. However, only 68% feel the school has high expectations, and a notable 33% disagree that concerns are dealt with properly.
Lister is a large, non-selective secondary school for 11 to 16 year olds with 1,497 pupils, operating close to its capacity of 1,550. It is heavily oversubscribed, receiving 710 applications for 247 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, with a ratio of 2.87 applicants per place. The school has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 52.9%. Facilities are extensive and include a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and a sports hall, with clubs ranging from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to Model UN and chess. The school offers a resourced provision and support for a wide range of SEND needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Speech, Language & Communication needs. This is a school that suits families in Newham looking for a well-equipped, oversubscribed community school with a strong focus on extracurricular breadth, though the academic data suggests it may be a better fit for pupils who need more support to reach the national average in progress.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | St Mary's Road, London, Newham, E13 9AE |
| Headteacher | Alice Clay |
| Local Authority | Newham |
| Number of Pupils | 1,497 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 52.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,497 / 1,550 (97% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
9 Oct 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (9 Oct 2024): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 17 Dec 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.31)
2265th of 3,141
Nationally
429th of 487
In London
16th of 21
In Newham
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2329%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 265 pupils).
- Sixth form college49%
- School sixth form (stay)29%
- FE college17%
- Not sustained2%
- Employment1%
97% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
40 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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed247
710
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
132 families put this school as their 1st choice (19% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
- Asian54.5%
- White (other)10.4%
- Mixed7.7%
- White British3.9%
- Black3.1%
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
2024/2575% 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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
35
Total schools
33
Oversubscribed
26
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 Lister Community 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
St Mary's Road, London
Newham, E13 9AE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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