Drapers' Academy

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

Part of DRAPERS' MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST

Settle Road, Harold Hill, Romford, RM3 9XR

01708 371331 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 11 March 2025
Grade 5 or above in English and maths35%England 45% · 2024/25
8th highest of 10 state secondary schools in Romford.
Higher than 28% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,196Room for 1,120 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,076 in 2019, 1,182 in 2021, 1,219 in 2022, 1,216 in 2023, 1,219 in 2024, 1,206 in 2025, 1,196 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.6111 for 201 places, September 2026
10th highest of 10 state secondary schools in Romford.
Higher than 7% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 11 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

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.

What parents say

128 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Havering comparisons use the 4 of its 19 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 15 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolHaveringEngland
My child is happy at this school
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Havering.
Higher than 61% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 88% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Havering.
Higher than 48% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
82% 86% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Havering.
Higher than 29% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
63% 71% 78%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 34 parents whose child had been bullied
Higher than 5% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
21% – 43%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 116 parents who had raised a concern
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Havering.
Higher than 35% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
63% 71% 74%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 21 parents of children with SEND
Higher than 66% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
67% – 63%
I would recommend this school to another parent
3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Havering.
Higher than 58% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
85%said yes 86% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 11%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Havering figures pool parents at the Havering schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

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

191 pupils in this year group.

35% — 12 points below the Havering average, and 10 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHaveringEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 35% 48% 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. 38.8 47.2 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.5 4.3 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: 26%This school 2023/24: 40%This school 2024/25: 35% This school England 45% 2022/23 26% 2023/24 40% 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.

200 pupils in this year group.

83% — 9 points below the Havering average, and 9 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 26%52%15%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolHaveringEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 83% 92% 92%
School sixth form 26% 37% 34%
Sixth form college 2% 1% 13%
Further education college 52% 46% 37%
Apprenticeship 4% 4% 3%
Work 1% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
86%83%

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

97 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolHaveringEngland
Average A level grade C C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 12% 20% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 37% 49% 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. 28.7 33.5 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 27.8This school 2023/24: 30.3This school 2024/25: 28.7 This school England 35 2022/23 27.8 2023/24 30.3 2024/25 28.7

A level subjects, 2024/25

18 subjects, 290 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Sociology 40 3% 25% 20%
Psychology 36 6% 17% 19%
Law 32 0% 0% 17%
Biology 25 0% 0% 27%
Chemistry 22 0% 5% 30%
Business Studies:Single 20 0% 5% 16%
Government and Politics 17 0% 0% 26%
Mathematics 16 0% 19% 40%
Physics 15 7% 20% 31%
English Literature 14 7% 21% 23%
History 11 0% 0% 23%
Design and Technology (Product Design) 9 0% 11% 15%
Economics 9 0% 22% 26%
Geography 9 0% 11% 23%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design, Drama and Theatre Studies, Art and Design (Fine Art), Chinese.

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.

99 students in this year group.

90% — 2 points below the Havering average, and 11 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHaveringEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 90% 92% 79%
Apprenticeship 12% 13% 7%
Work 18% 17% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%90%

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.

84 students in this year group.

79% — 8 points above the Havering average, and 19 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHaveringEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 79% 71% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 21% 31% 19%

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

2023/242024/25
74%79%

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 Havering. 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 offered201
Families who put it first111
Of those, offered a place111 (100%)
Families who listed it at all270

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.6

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 Havering

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolHaveringEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
1st highest of 10 state secondary schools in Romford.
Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
44.5% 23.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
6th highest of 10 state secondary schools in Romford.
Higher than 45% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.7% 3.4%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
2nd highest of 10 state secondary schools in Romford.
Higher than 54% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
14.3% 11.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
5th highest of 10 state secondary schools in Romford.
Higher than 79% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
29.9% 21.4%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
9th lowest of 10 state secondary schools in Romford.
Lower than 17% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
10.6% 6.9%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
10th lowest of 10 state secondary schools in Romford.
Lower than 13% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
32.7% 18.6%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
9th lowest of 10 state secondary schools in Romford.
Lower than 19% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
34.6 9.4 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
10th lowest of 10 state secondary schools in Romford.
Lower than 19% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.9% 4.5% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded8 pupils 0.66% 0.17% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
6th highest of 10 state secondary schools in Romford.
Higher than 18% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
15.1 15.9 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
7th highest of 10 state secondary schools in Romford.
Higher than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.8 11.7 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
8th highest of 10 state secondary schools in Romford.
Higher than 36% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
11.2% 14.3%* 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.

Nearby secondary schools

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

Questions parents ask

What is Drapers' Academy's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 11 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Drapers' Academy 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%.

Would parents recommend Drapers' Academy?

85% of the 128 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Drapers' Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Drapers' Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 111 families put Drapers' Academy as their first choice for 201 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 111 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.