The UCL Academy
88%
Capacity
1,015
Pupils
2.7x
Demand
About The UCL Academy
The UCL Academy, a mixed state secondary in Camden, recorded a Progress 8 score of -0.16 in the 2023/24 academic year, which is notably better than the local authority average of -0.32 for similar schools. This places it fourth out of twelve schools in Camden, putting it in the top third of its local peers. While the score is still slightly below the national average of zero, the gap is modest, and the school’s performance is a clear step up from the typical Camden secondary. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 46.6, and just under half of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The English Progress 8 measure is positive at 0.16, suggesting strong outcomes in that subject, while maths is close to average at -0.12. The school also has a higher-than-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 46.4%, making its relative performance all the more noteworthy.
Ofsted visited in May 2024 and upgraded the school from Requires Improvement to Good overall, with Good ratings across all categories including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This marks a significant turnaround from its previous inspection in March 2022, where it had been rated Requires Improvement across the board. At Key Stage 5, the school’s value-added score is -0.14, which is classified as Below average, and the average A-level grade is a C. The school offers a broad curriculum with an EBacc entry rate of 57.2%, and 37.6% of pupils achieved the EBacc at a grade 4 or above. The sixth form has 125 pupils and a points per entry of 31.92, equivalent to a C+ grade. While A-level outcomes are not as strong as the school’s GCSE results, the sixth form is rated Good by Ofsted and provides a clear continuation route for students.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 185 places in the 2025/26 academic year, it received 501 applications, a ratio of 2.71 applicants per place, with 104 first-preference offers made. Facilities are extensive and include a theatre, swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, sports hall, and a sixth form centre. The school also has a chapel, art studios, and science labs. Sports on offer include football, rugby, rowing, and martial arts, while clubs range from science and debate to gardening and Young Enterprise. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, among others. This is a school that has clearly improved under headteacher Andrea Pomphrey and suits families looking for a large, diverse, and well-equipped secondary with a strong sixth form, though those prioritising top-tier A-level results may want to look at higher-performing peers like Parliament Hill School, 2.4 km away.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Adelaide Road, Swiss Cottage, Camden, Camden, NW3 3AQ |
| Headteacher | Andrea Pomphrey |
| Local Authority | Camden |
| Number of Pupils | 1,015 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 46.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,015 / 1,150 (88% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 26 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.16)
1921st of 3,141
Nationally
393rd of 487
In London
4th of 12
In Camden
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
31.8
'22/23
28.1
'23/24
31.9
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
2022/2369%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 174 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)69%
- FE college17%
- Not sustained5%
- Sixth form college3%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Employment1%
91% 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
2022/2381%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 136 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
38%
Russell Group
40%
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)81%
- Employment7%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship2%
- 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- Mathematics58
- Psychology45
- Economics44
- Biology38
- Chemistry29
- Government and Politics27
- English Literature24
- Sociology22
- Design and Technology (Engineering)21
- Computer Studies / Computing17
- Geography14
- Physics14
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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed185
501
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
104 families put this school as their 1st choice (21% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White (other)19.2%
- Mixed17.6%
- Asian14.9%
- White British10.5%
- Black0.4%
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.
15
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
11
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 UCL 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
Adelaide Road, Swiss Cottage, Camden
Camden, NW3 3AQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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