Rokeby School

About Rokeby School

Rokeby School’s headline Progress 8 score of 0.05 sits just below the Newham local authority average of 0.13, placing it in the middle of the pack for a borough with strong secondary provision. That gap is modest — roughly a month’s worth of progress per pupil across eight subjects — and the school’s banding is officially rated as ‘Average’, so it’s not a cause for alarm. What’s more telling is the variation within that overall figure. Pupils at Rokeby make significantly stronger progress in maths, with a Progress 8 score of 0.35, while their EBacc subjects lag behind at -0.23. That pattern suggests the school’s maths department is a particular strength, but that the broader academic diet — particularly the English Baccalaureate suite — may not be pushing pupils as far. With 52.6 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, Rokeby serves a notably disadvantaged intake, which makes its solid, if unspectacular, headline performance a more nuanced story than the raw numbers alone suggest.

In its most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2025, Rokeby was rated Good overall, with two areas judged Outstanding: personal development, and behaviour and attitudes. That’s a significant shift from its previous inspection in 2013, which also rated the school Good but with no Outstanding judgements. The Attainment 8 score of 48.9 is a touch below the national average, but the basics measure — the proportion of pupils achieving a grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSE — stands at 52.7 per cent, which is respectable given the intake. The EBacc entry rate of 47.3 per cent is healthy, though only 11 per cent of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In Newham, Rokeby ranks 13th out of 21 schools on Progress 8, placing it in the bottom half of the borough. Nationally, it sits around the 45th percentile, meaning roughly 55 per cent of schools in England achieve stronger progress. The school does not have a sixth form, so pupils leave at 16.

Rokeby is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 212 applications for just 53 places, a ratio of four to one, and only 28 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand suggests strong local reputation, and the parent view data backs that up — 97 per cent of the 32 respondents would recommend the school, with 69 per cent strongly agreeing their child is happy and 72 per cent strongly agreeing their child feels safe. The school’s SEND provision covers a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. Facilities are generous for a state school: a swimming pool, astro turf, theatre, chapel, and dedicated music and art rooms. Clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model United Nations, and a full orchestra. For families in Newham looking for a boys’ school with strong pastoral care and a maths focus, Rokeby is a popular choice — but be prepared for a competitive admissions process.

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