The Excelsior Academy
58%
Capacity
992
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About The Excelsior Academy
The Excelsior Academy is a mixed secondary school in Hackney that currently educates 992 pupils against a total capacity of 1,710, meaning it is operating well below its potential intake. The school serves a significantly disadvantaged community, with 69.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals — far higher than the national average and a clear indicator of the challenges the school faces. Despite this, demand for places remains strong. For the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 323 applications for 236 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.37. Of those applicants, 152 put the school as their first preference, and all of them received an offer. This suggests that while the school is oversubscribed overall, it is not among the most fiercely competitive in the borough, and families who prioritise it are likely to secure a place.
Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated its overall effectiveness as Requires Improvement, a downgrade from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2020. The inspection found that while the quality of education remains a concern, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision were all rated Good. Exam results for 2023/24 paint a challenging picture: the school's Progress 8 score was -0.62, placing it well below average nationally and ranking it 16th out of 18 secondary schools in Hackney. This is a significant gap compared to the local authority average Progress 8 score of 0.52. The Attainment 8 score was 30.2, and only 33.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the school's value added score was -0.55, with an average grade of D per entry.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, tennis courts, playing fields, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. It also provides extensive SEND support, covering needs from dyslexia and moderate learning difficulties to autistic spectrum disorder and multi-sensory impairment. Clubs include Science Club, Book Club, Model UN, and Debate, while sports on offer range from netball and football to martial arts and gymnastics. The school has a nursery provision and an official sixth form, though the sixth form is small with only 35 pupils in the most recent data. Given its high FSM intake and below-average outcomes, this school is likely to suit families who value a genuinely inclusive, diverse environment and are comfortable with a school that is still working to improve its academic performance. The nearest outstanding school, Mossbourne Community Academy, is just 0.7 km away, so families with higher academic expectations may want to consider that alternative.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Shacklewell Lane, London, Hackney, E8 2EY |
| Headteacher | Omar Deria |
| Local Authority | Hackney |
| Number of Pupils | 992 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 69.9% |
| School Capacity | 992 / 1,710 (58% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 19 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.62)
2757th of 3,141
Nationally
465th of 487
In London
16th of 16
In Hackney
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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
26.6
'22/23
15.9
'23/24
21.5
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
2022/2344%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 209 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)44%
- FE college30%
- Not sustained13%
- Employment5%
- Apprenticeship1%
81% 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
2022/2360%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 72 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
9%
Russell Group
9%
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)60%
- Employment15%
- Not sustained10%
- Further education6%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Other 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- Psychology12
- Art and Design8
- Design and Technology (Product Design)8
- Computer Studies / Computing7
- English Literature4
- Mathematics4
- Sociology3
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
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed236
323
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
152 families put this school as their 1st choice (47% 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 British40.0%
- Asian17.5%
- Mixed8.2%
- White (other)7.0%
- Black0.7%
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.
34
Total schools
30
Oversubscribed
24
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 Excelsior 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
Shacklewell Lane, London
Hackney, E8 2EY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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