Sanders Draper
77%
Capacity
705
Pupils
3.6x
Demand
About Sanders Draper
Sanders Draper is a secondary school in Havering that parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 522 applications for just 146 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.58. Of those applicants, 161 put it as their first preference, and 122 of those were offered a place. That level of demand suggests the school has a solid local reputation, even though official parent-view data isn't available in this dataset. The school is a mixed, non-religious state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It's led by headteacher Stuart Brooks and currently has 705 pupils on roll against a capacity of 918, so there is some room to grow. Just over a quarter of its pupils (25.8%) are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and gives some context to the school's intake.
Academically, Sanders Draper's most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2023 rated it Good across the board, including for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This was a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2016, when it was rated Requires Improvement. In terms of exam results, the school's Progress 8 score for 2023/24 was -0.37, which is below the Havering local authority average of +0.11. This places it 16th out of 17 schools in the borough, in the bottom 50% nationally. Its Attainment 8 score was 41.9, and 60.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though only 35.9% reached grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score was 3.93, with 59.4% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects.
The school offers a decent range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a theatre, and music rooms. Sports on offer include rugby, rowing, and martial arts, and there are clubs like debate, orchestra, and eco club. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate to severe learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. For families considering this school, the oversubscription data shows it's a popular choice locally, but the Progress 8 score is below the borough average, so it may suit parents who prioritise the school's improving Ofsted rating and inclusive ethos over headline academic rankings. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School, 2.1 km away, which may be an alternative for families with daughters.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Suttons Lane, Hornchurch, Havering, RM12 6RT |
| Headteacher | Stuart Brooks |
| Local Authority | Havering |
| Number of Pupils | 705 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 25.8% |
| School Capacity | 705 / 918 (77% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 Jan 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 5 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.37)
2398th of 3,141
Nationally
443rd of 487
In London
16th of 17
In Havering
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed146
522
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
161 families put this school as their 1st choice (31% 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.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British70.5%
- White (other)8.8%
- Asian7.4%
- Mixed6.2%
- Black1.4%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half 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.
12
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
9
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 Sanders Draper
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
Suttons Lane, Hornchurch
Havering, RM12 6RT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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