SchoolScoresHaberdashers' Borough Academy
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of HABERDASHERS' ASKE'S FEDERATION TRUST
94B Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 0EX
020 3764 1321 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 March 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
72 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Southwark comparisons use the 12 of its 20 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 8 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.
| Statement | This school | Southwark | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 9th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southwark. Higher than 35% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 87% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 11th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southwark. Higher than 23% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 89% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 11th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southwark. Higher than 23% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63% | 81% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 34 parents whose child had been bullied 8th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southwark. Higher than 11% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 32% | 48% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 61 parents who had raised a concern 11th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southwark. Higher than 12% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 48% | 68% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 11th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southwark. Higher than 28% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69%said yes | 84% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Southwark figures pool parents at the Southwark 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
175 pupils in this year group.
43% — 12 points below the Southwark average, and 3 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Southwark | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 43% | 55% | 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. | 47.8 | 52.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.1 |
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.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Southwark. 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 offered | 180 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 135 |
| Of those, offered a place | 128 (95%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 517 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.8
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Southwark | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Southwark. Higher than 95% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 56.9% | 46.2%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 12th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Southwark. Higher than 50% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.9% | 3.1%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Southwark. Higher than 74% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 17.2% | 14.6%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 13th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Southwark. Higher than 80% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 30.8% | 29.2%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 14th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Southwark. Lower than 65% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.5% | 6.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 14th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Southwark. Lower than 53% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 22.9% | 18.6%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 15th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Southwark. Lower than 38% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 20.1 | 11.3 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 19th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Southwark. Lower than 17% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.6% | 6.3% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Southwark. Higher than 56% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.1 | 15.3 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Southwark. Higher than 58% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.2 | 11.9 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 19 state secondary schools in Southwark. Higher than 96% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 31.2% | 20.9%* | 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
- Notre Dame Catholic Girls' School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 33% grade 5+ English and maths
- London Nautical, City of London Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion)
- Ark Globe Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 exceptional, 4 strong · 49% grade 5+ English and maths
- Oasis Academy South Bank 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 59% grade 5+ English and maths
- City of London School 0.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 76% A*/A at A level
- St Saviour's and St Olave's CofE School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 54% grade 5+ English and maths
- King's College London Maths School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · A+ average A level grade
- DLD College 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 19% A*/A at A level
- St Paul's Cathedral School 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- South Bank University Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Haberdashers' Borough Academy's Ofsted rating?
Haberdashers' Borough Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 March 2024.
How did Haberdashers' Borough Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 43% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 3 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Haberdashers' Borough Academy?
69% of the 72 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Haberdashers' Borough Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Haberdashers' Borough Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 135 families put Haberdashers' Borough Academy as their first choice for 180 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 128 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 147073.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.