Classpot

The Sydney Russell School

Barking and Dagenham, RM9 5QTSecondaryAges 4–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Sep 2021
Progress 8
+0.72
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
321 1st-choice / 359 places
Ranking
🏆Top 10%
#267 of 3,141 nationally

About The Sydney Russell School

The Sydney Russell School is a large all-through state school in Barking and Dagenham, currently educating 2,640 pupils against a capacity of 2,670, meaning it is running very close to full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 27.3%, which is significantly above the national average and reflects the borough's demographic profile. Demand for places is exceptionally high: for the 2025/26 secondary intake, the school received 1,067 applications for 359 places, an oversubscription ratio of nearly 3:1. Of those applications, 321 were first-preference choices, and 267 first-preference offers were made, indicating that even families who put the school as their top choice face competition. This level of demand places it among the most sought-after secondary schools in the local authority, ranking third out of 13 schools by Progress 8 score, behind only Goresbrook School and Riverside School.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range4 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressParsloes Avenue, Dagenham, Barking and Dagenham, RM9 5QT
HeadteacherClare Cross
Local AuthorityBarking and Dagenham
Number of Pupils2,640
Free School Meals (FSM)27.3%
School Capacity2,640 / 2,670 (99% full)
Sixth FormYes

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

15 Sept 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 18 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Science LabsSports HallLibraryTheatreGymnasiumAstro TurfChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

18

Sports

HockeyNetballSwimmingFootballTennisRugbyBadmintonAthleticsMartial ArtsGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

DramaBook ClubNewspaperGardeningCodingDuke of EdinburghModel United NationsDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningResourced ProvisionOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Source: sydneyrussellschool.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Sydney Russell School

The Sydney Russell School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.