The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls

About The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls

The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls stands out in Havering for its academic performance, with a Progress 8 score of 0.39 that is well above the local authority average of 0.11. This places the school fifth out of 17 secondary schools in the borough, putting it in the top 25 per cent nationally. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 236 places in the 2025/26 academic year, it received 582 applications, with 238 listing it as a first preference. That ratio of 2.47 applications per place tells you local families are keen to get in. The school is a girls-only state secondary with a co-educational sixth form, and it serves 1,393 pupils, which is slightly over its official capacity of 1,340. Around 22.5 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is broadly in line with the national average for a school of this type.

Academically, the school delivers strong results across the board. Its Attainment 8 score is 54.7, and 78.7 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The EBacc average point score sits at 4.96, and nearly two-thirds of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. Progress 8 is positive across most areas, with English showing particularly strong progress at 0.71 and open subjects at 0.66, though maths progress is slightly negative at -0.08. In the sixth form, the picture is more mixed: the value added score is -0.2, which is rated below average, and the average points per entry is 31.67, equivalent to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels average out at a grade C. Ofsted visited in November 2024 and rated behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management as outstanding, with the quality of education judged good.

The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, and a sixth form centre. There are plenty of clubs and activities, from chess and orchestra to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Young Enterprise. Parents are overwhelmingly positive: 92 per cent would recommend the school, and 92 per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there. The school supports a broad range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language difficulties, though 15 per cent of parents disagreed that SEND children get the support they need. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic progress, particularly in English and the humanities, and who want a well-structured environment with outstanding behaviour and personal development. Given its oversubscription, applying as a first preference is essential.

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