The Bridge Academy
96%
Capacity
1,099
Pupils
3.9x
Demand
About The Bridge Academy
The Bridge Academy in Hackney is a school that parents are actively seeking out. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 583 applications for just 150 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.89. Of those applicants, 103 put the school as their first preference, and all 103 received an offer. This level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, though the school does not publish a parent satisfaction survey percentage to back that up directly. The school is a mixed, non-religious state secondary for ages 11-19, with a current roll of 1099 pupils against a capacity of 1150, so it is running close to full. A significant 57.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is well above the national average and gives context to the school's inclusive intake.
Academically, The Bridge Academy performs well above expectations given its intake. Its Progress 8 score of 0.51 means pupils achieve around half a grade more per subject than similar students nationally, placing it in the top 25% of schools across the country. In Hackney, it ranks 9th out of 16 schools, with the local authority average Progress 8 being 0.52, so it is almost exactly on the LA benchmark. The Attainment 8 score is 55.3, and 79.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the school's value-added score is 0.19, rated 'Above average', with an average points per entry of 31.63 (a C grade). The most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 judged the school as 'Good' overall, with leadership and management also rated 'Good', and the ungraded inspection confirmed it 'remains Good'.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, music rooms, a sixth form centre, and astro turf pitches. Sports on offer include swimming, hockey, and martial arts, while clubs range from Model UN and Debate to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Young Enterprise. The school has a dedicated sixth form and provides support for a broad spectrum of special educational needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. For families considering The Bridge Academy, the data paints a picture of a large, popular school that delivers strong academic progress for a diverse and disadvantaged cohort. Its oversubscription means a firm first preference is essential, and its Good Ofsted rating and strong Progress 8 score make it a solid choice within Hackney's competitive secondary market.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Laburnum Street, London, Hackney, E2 8BA |
| Headteacher | Chris Brown |
| Local Authority | Hackney |
| Number of Pupils | 1,099 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 57.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,099 / 1,150 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
23 Feb 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (23 Feb 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 27 Feb 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.51)
490th of 3,141
Nationally
161st of 487
In London
9th 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
35.0
'22/23
32.7
'23/24
31.6
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
2022/2368%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 103 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
31%
Russell Group
33%
Top-third HE
2%
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)68%
- Not sustained13%
- Employment11%
- Apprenticeship6%
- 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed150
583
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
103 families put this school as their 1st choice (18% 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 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White (other)19.2%
- White British13.6%
- Asian13.5%
- Mixed11.2%
- Black3.5%
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.
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.
35
Total schools
27
Oversubscribed
25
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 Bridge 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
Laburnum Street, London
Hackney, E2 8BA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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