School 21

About School 21

School 21 sits in the middle of the pack in Newham, but its headline Progress 8 score of -0.05 is a notable 0.18 points below the local authority average of 0.13. That gap is modest, but it places the school 14th out of 26 secondary schools in the borough, putting it in the bottom half. What makes this more interesting is the variation beneath that headline figure. While overall progress is slightly negative, pupils make significantly stronger progress in maths, with a Progress 8 score of +0.39, well above the LA average. That strength is offset by weaker progress in open subjects (-0.37) and English (-0.03). The school's Attainment 8 score of 45.9 and EBacc average point score of 4.08 are solid, but only 31% of pupils entered the EBacc, and just 12.7% achieved the full suite at grade 5 or above. For a school where 47% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, these results tell a story of uneven but real academic strengths.

The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2025 marked a clear turnaround from its previous rating of Requires Improvement in March 2023. Inspectors judged every category as Good, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The sixth form also received a Good rating, though its academic performance is more mixed: a value-added score of -0.27 places it in the 'Below average' banding, with an average point score per entry of 32.03, equivalent to a C+. At KS4, the Progress 8 banding is 'Average', and 67.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, compared with 47.9% at grade 5 or above. Parent feedback is broadly positive: 78% of the 148 respondents would recommend the school, and 86% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy. Strong majorities also felt the school has high expectations and that their child does well.

School 21 is a heavily oversubscribed all-through state school for ages 4 to 18, with 462 applications for just one available place in the 2025/26 secondary intake, and 59 first-preference applications. That level of demand suggests strong local reputation despite middling league table position. Facilities are generous for a state school, including a swimming pool, astro turf, sports hall, art studios, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. The school offers a wide range of clubs and sports, from rowing and rugby to coding and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND provision covers eight categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Parents of SEND children were largely positive: 76% agreed or strongly agreed that the school gives them the support they need. This is a school that suits families who value strong pastoral care and a broad curriculum, and who are comfortable with a large, diverse urban comprehensive where academic results are improving but still sit below the local average.

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