Skinners' Academy
104%
Capacity
987
Pupils
4.7x
Demand
About Skinners' Academy
Skinners' Academy sits within Hackney, a borough with 18 secondary schools, and ranks 4th among them by Progress 8 score. That puts it in the top 25% locally, though it sits behind three higher-performing peers: Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy, Mossbourne Community Academy, and Waterside Academy. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Mossbourne Community Academy, about 3.3 km away. Skinners' itself was rated Good overall in its most recent graded inspection in 2021, with Outstanding marks for sixth-form provision and personal development. The school is led by headteacher Sonia Jacob and is a mixed, non-religious state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 19. It is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 747 applications for 160 places, with 208 first-preference applications and 138 first-preference offers. That level of demand reflects its strong local reputation, particularly given its academic outcomes.
Academically, Skinners' Academy performs well above the Hackney average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.99 is nearly double the local authority average of 0.52, placing it in the top 3% nationally. Attainment 8 sits at 74.1, and 100% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 98.7% reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is high at 87.4%, and 83.6% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the school's value-added score of 0.24 is rated above average, and the average points per entry of 45.99 equates to an A- grade. The best three A-levels average out at A- as well, and 48.4% of entries achieved grades AAB or higher. Progress in maths is particularly strong, with a Progress 8 score of 1.12, while English progress is more modest at 0.4.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, swimming pool, sports hall, art studios, science labs, a sixth-form centre, ICT suite, and a chapel. Sports on offer include rugby, cricket, football, basketball, netball, martial arts, cross country, and rounders, while clubs cover chess, choir, debate, newspaper, gardening, Model UN, Young Enterprise, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND provisions are in place for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties. With 987 pupils against a capacity of 945, the school is slightly over capacity, and 5.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic outcomes, a broad extracurricular offer, and a sixth form that is rated Outstanding, all within a popular Hackney setting.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Woodberry Grove, London, Hackney, N4 1SY |
| Headteacher | Sonia Jacob |
| Local Authority | Hackney |
| Number of Pupils | 987 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 5.6% |
| School Capacity | 987 / 945 (104% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Nov 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 13 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.99)
82nd of 3,141
Nationally
36th of 487
In London
4th of 16
In Hackney
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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
47.1
'22/23
43.2
'23/24
46.0
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
2022/2397%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 151 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)97%
- FE college1%
- Not sustained1%
99% 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
2022/2374%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 160 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
61%
Russell Group
69%
Top-third HE
5%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)74%
- Employment13%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship3%
- 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- Mathematics95
- Economics61
- Geography46
- History45
- Logic / Philosophy32
- Physics31
- Chemistry28
- Mathematics (Further)25
- English Literature21
- Government and Politics20
- Biology19
- Business Studies:Single16
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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed160
747
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
208 families put this school as their 1st choice (28% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British63.3%
- Asian11.0%
- Mixed10.9%
- White (other)8.2%
- Black0.1%
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
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
⚠ 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.
29
Total schools
21
Oversubscribed
22
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 Skinners' Academy
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
Woodberry Grove, London
Hackney, N4 1SY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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