Swanlea School
102%
Capacity
1,281
Pupils
4.9x
Demand
About Swanlea School
Swanlea School is a mixed, non-denominational secondary in Tower Hamlets that is currently running above its official capacity, with 1,281 pupils against a published capacity of 1,260. The school serves a community with a high level of disadvantage: 45.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure well above the national average for secondary schools. Demand is exceptionally strong. For entry in 2025/26, the school received 954 applications for 194 places, an oversubscription ratio of nearly five to one. Of those, 308 families put Swanlea as their first preference, and 182 first-preference offers were made. This level of competition suggests a school that local parents are actively prioritising, and it is the top-ranked school in Tower Hamlets by Progress 8, ahead of peers like Bishop Challoner Catholic School and Stepney All Saints.
Academically, Swanlea’s performance is striking. Its Progress 8 score of +0.81 is rated ‘well above average’ nationally and places it first among 17 schools in Tower Hamlets, where the local authority average is just +0.09. In the 2023/24 results, 83.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 65.4% reached grade 5 or above. The Attainment 8 score of 56.1 is strong, and 66.8% of pupils entered the EBacc, with 44.4% achieving it at grade 4 or above. In the most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, the school was rated Outstanding across every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision — a clean sweep that matches its previous Outstanding rating from 2013. At A-level, the best three results averaged a C+ grade, with a points per entry of 34.52, and the sixth form’s value-added score is rated Average.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a theatre, sports hall, science labs, music rooms, and a sixth-form centre. It offers a wide range of sports from rugby and hockey to dance and rounders, and clubs including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, and coding. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With an oversubscription ratio of 4.92, securing a place is competitive, and families should be prepared to apply early and list Swanlea as a first preference. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic progress in a diverse, urban setting, and who are comfortable with a large, high-demand institution that consistently outperforms its local authority peers.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | 31 Brady Street, London, Tower Hamlets, E1 5DJ |
| Headteacher | Kabir Miah |
| Local Authority | Tower Hamlets |
| Number of Pupils | 1,281 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 45.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,281 / 1,260 (102% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 Apr 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 12 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.81)
185th of 3,141
Nationally
76th of 487
In London
1st of 17
In Tower Hamlets
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
42.0
'22/23
37.0
'23/24
34.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2366%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 97 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
45%
Russell Group
45%
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)66%
- Employment18%
- Not sustained13%
- Apprenticeship1%
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
21Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed194
954
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
308 families put this school as their 1st choice (32% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian86.0%
- Mixed3.9%
- White (other)2.0%
- White British0.4%
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
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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.
52
Total schools
42
Oversubscribed
35
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 Swanlea School
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
31 Brady Street, London
Tower Hamlets, E1 5DJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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