Canons High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of CANONS HIGH SCHOOL

Shaldon Road, Edgware, HA8 6AN

020 8951 5780 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 17 January 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths35%England 45% · 2024/25
13th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Harrow.
Higher than 28% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,139Room for 1,280 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,250 in 2019, 1,266 in 2021, 1,276 in 2022, 1,302 in 2023, 1,257 in 2024, 1,217 in 2025, 1,139 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.5102 for 193 places, September 2026
9th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Harrow.
Higher than 6% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 17 January 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

193 pupils in this year group.

35% — 18 points below the Harrow average, and 10 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHarrowEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 35% 54% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 39.1 51.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.4 4.7 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 33%This school 2023/24: 46%This school 2024/25: 35% This school England 45% 2022/23 33% 2023/24 46% 2024/25 35%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

212 pupils in this year group.

92% — 3 points below the Harrow average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHarrowEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 92% 95% 92%
School sixth form 38% 49% 34%
Sixth form college 12% 12% 13%
Further education college 39% 32% 37%
Apprenticeship 1% – 3%
Work 1% – 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
96%92%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

84 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolHarrowEngland
Average A level grade C B- B-
A level exams graded A* or A 13% 26% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 35% 55% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 28.8 36.7 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
20 25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 24.0This school 2023/24: 23.5This school 2024/25: 28.8 This school England 35 2022/23 24.0 2023/24 23.5 2024/25 28.8

A level subjects, 2024/25

19 subjects, 226 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Psychology 41 0% 15% 19%
Business Studies:Single 31 0% 6% 16%
Economics 24 0% 8% 26%
Sociology 24 0% 0% 20%
Mathematics 13 8% 15% 40%
Biology 12 0% 8% 27%
Chemistry 12 8% 8% 30%
English Literature 12 0% 8% 23%
Religious Studies 12 8% 25% 22%
Government and Politics 10 10% 10% 26%
Computer Studies / Computing 8 0% 0% 24%
History 8 25% 75% 23%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 8 13% 25% 14%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Physics, Arabic, Art and Design, Art and Design (Photography), Law, Spanish.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

143 students in this year group.

79% — 3 points below the Harrow average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHarrowEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 79% 82% 79%
Apprenticeship 4% 3% 7%
Work 15% 13% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
88%79%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

124 students in this year group.

78% — about the same as the Harrow average, and 18 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHarrowEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 78% 77% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 11% 26% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
79%78%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Harrow. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered193
Families who put it first102
Of those, offered a place102 (100%)
Families who listed it at all303

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.6 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 0.5

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Harrow

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 12 places for moderate learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolHarrowEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 13 state secondary schools in Harrow.
Higher than 65% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
33.3% 26.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
13th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Harrow.
Higher than 11% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.2% 3.1%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
10th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Harrow.
Higher than 11% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
7.6% 9.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
5th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Harrow.
Higher than 97% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
67.4% 60.7%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
13th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Harrow.
Lower than 27% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.8% 6.9%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
13th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Harrow.
Lower than 4% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
39.7% 20.8%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
13th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Harrow.
Lower than 36% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
20.9 6.9 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
13th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Harrow.
Lower than 20% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.7% 4.2% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.16% 0.13% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 7th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Harrow.
Higher than 23% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
15.4 15.9 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
11th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Harrow.
Higher than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.8 11.4 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
11th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Harrow.
Higher than 33% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
10.7% 14.5%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Canons High School's Ofsted rating?

Canons High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 17 January 2023.

How did Canons High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 35% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 10 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Canons High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 102 families put Canons High School as their first choice for 193 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 102 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.