The Archer Academy
100%
Capacity
809
Pupils
6.5x
Demand
About The Archer Academy
Parents are clearly very happy with The Archer Academy. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, a remarkable 94% of the 240 respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. The school is also heavily oversubscribed: for 152 Year 7 places in the 2025/26 academic year, there were 982 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 6.46. Of those, 230 were first-preference applications, and 130 first-preference offers were made. The survey responses back up the enthusiasm. On questions like whether the school has high expectations for their child, 94% of parents either agreed or strongly agreed. Similarly, 97% felt their child could take part in clubs and activities, and 97% said there was a good range of subjects available. The only area where opinion was more divided was SEND support: 62% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, while 34% disagreed or strongly disagreed.
Academically, The Archer Academy is a strong performer. Its most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2019, rated the school Outstanding overall, and an ungraded inspection in January 2025 confirmed that standards were maintained. The school’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was 0.61, which is well above average nationally and sits just above the Barnet local authority average of 0.6. This places the school 16th out of 32 secondary schools in the borough. The Attainment 8 score was 58.9, and 81.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. A high 81.1% of pupils entered the English Baccalaureate, with 61% achieving it at grade 4 or above and 45.9% at grade 5 or above. The school’s EBacc average point score was 5.66. In terms of Progress 8 breakdown, the school performs particularly strongly in the EBacc subjects (0.82) and open subjects (0.58), with English at 0.57 and maths at 0.36.
The Archer Academy is a mixed, non-denominational secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It is almost at full capacity, with 809 pupils against a capacity of 810. The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, a theatre, and science labs. Sports on offer include hockey, netball, and athletics, while clubs range from Model UN and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to coding and a film club. The school has a published list of SEND provisions covering areas such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication, and Social, Emotional & Mental Health needs. With 12.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school has a slightly below-average proportion for a state secondary. This is a school that suits families looking for a high-performing, heavily oversubscribed local option with strong academic results and a wide range of extracurricular activities, though parents of children with SEND may want to investigate the support on offer more closely.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Eagans Close, London, Barnet, N2 8GA |
| Headteacher | Lucy Harrison |
| Local Authority | Barnet |
| Number of Pupils | 809 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.9% |
| School Capacity | 809 / 810 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Jan 2025Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (15 Jan 2025): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 18 Jun 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.61)
361st of 3,141
Nationally
136th of 487
In London
15th of 28
In Barnet
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.
Ofsted Parent View
240 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed152
982
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
230 families put this school as their 1st choice (23% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British32.1%
- White (other)30.2%
- Mixed17.4%
- Asian7.6%
- Black0.5%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% 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.
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.
18
Total schools
17
Oversubscribed
14
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 The Archer 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
Eagans Close, London
Barnet, N2 8GA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at The Archer Academy!
Write a Review