London Design and Engineering UTC
132%
Capacity
792
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About London Design and Engineering UTC
London Design and Engineering UTC is a state-funded secondary school in Newham that serves students from age 14 to 19, and it is currently significantly over capacity. The school has 792 pupils against a stated capacity of 600, which suggests strong local demand for its specialist technical and design-focused curriculum. The proportion of students eligible for free school meals stands at 44.3%, which is notably high and reflects the socio-economic profile of the borough. In the context of Newham, where the average Progress 8 score for all schools is 0.13, this UTC draws from a community with considerable disadvantage. Despite this, the school has been rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in March 2022, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018. The inspection report noted Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Academically, the school's results present a mixed picture. At Key Stage 4, the Progress 8 score is -0.38, meaning that on average, pupils achieve nearly half a grade less per subject than their peers nationally with similar starting points. This places the school 18th out of 21 schools in Newham on this measure, and in the bottom 50% nationally. The Attainment 8 score is 43.5, and the proportion of pupils achieving a grade 5 or above in English and maths is 45.5%. The school does not enter many students for the EBacc, with only 4% entered and none achieving it. At Key Stage 5, the picture is similar: the value-added score is -0.28, which is rated as Below average, and the average points per entry is 30.92, equating to a grade C. The best three A-levels average a C+ grade. These outcomes suggest that while the school serves a challenging intake, academic performance relative to national benchmarks remains an area for development.
The school offers a range of facilities including a Sixth Form Centre, science labs, a sports hall, and a library, and it runs clubs such as Debate, Science Club, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Sports on offer include rowing, martial arts, and swimming. For students with special educational needs, the school provides support for a wide range of needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The school is officially a UTC, meaning its curriculum is designed around engineering and design, which will appeal to students who are clear about pursuing technical or vocational pathways post-16. Given its oversubscription and specialist focus, this school is best suited to families in Newham who want a secondary option that combines academic study with a strong technical emphasis, and who are comfortable with a school that is still working to improve its academic outcomes relative to the strongest local competitors.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 14 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | 15 University Way, Royal Docks, London, Newham, E16 2RD |
| Headteacher | Geoffrey Fowler |
| Local Authority | Newham |
| Number of Pupils | 792 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 44.3% |
| School Capacity | 792 / 600 (132% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Mar 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 May 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.38)
2405th of 3,141
Nationally
445th of 487
In London
18th 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
33.1
'22/23
25.8
'23/24
30.9
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
2022/2357%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 103 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)57%
- FE college19%
- Sixth form college12%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Employment1%
91% 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
2022/2351%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 114 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
12%
Russell Group
13%
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)51%
- Employment19%
- Apprenticeship13%
- Not sustained11%
- Further 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- Mathematics31
- Computer Studies / Computing24
- Art and Design (Graphics)23
- Chemistry23
- Design and Technology (Product Design)23
- Physics18
- Psychology15
- Art and Design (Fine Art)12
- Biology11
- Economics10
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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian36.0%
- White (other)19.3%
- Mixed11.6%
- White British10.9%
- Black2.1%
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.
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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
6
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
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 London Design and Engineering UTC
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
Contact Information
15 University Way, Royal Docks, London
Newham, E16 2RD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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