SchoolScoresHighbury Fields School
Community school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Girls only · Sixth form
Highbury Hill, London, N5 1AR
020 7288 1888 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 4 October 2016.
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 | Outstanding |
| Outcomes for pupils | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Sixth form | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 28 September 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
134 pupils in this year group.
62% — 14 points above the Islington average, and 17 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Islington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 62% | 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. | 57.4 | 47 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 5.3 | 4.3 | 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.
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.
134 pupils in this year group.
93% — 2 points above the Islington average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Islington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 93% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 60% | 39% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 1% | 5% | 13% |
| Further education college | 30% | 41% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 1% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 92% | 93% |
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
19 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Islington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | B | B- | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 31% | 27% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 78% | 60% | 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. | 40 | 37.5 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
11 subjects, 55 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government and Politics | 10 | 0% | 20% | 26% |
| History | 9 | 11% | 22% | 23% |
| Sociology | 8 | 0% | 25% | 20% |
| Economics | 7 | 14% | 29% | 26% |
| Physics | 6 | 0% | 33% | 31% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Mathematics, Chemistry, Art and Design (Fine Art), English Literature, Biology, German.
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.
51 students in this year group.
76% — 5 points below the Islington average, and 3 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Islington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 76% | 81% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 1% | 7% |
| Work | 12% | 19% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 80% | 76% |
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.
40 students in this year group.
85% — 25 points above the Islington average, and 25 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Islington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 85% | 60% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 20% | 21% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 89% | 85% |
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 Islington. 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 | 136 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 98 |
| Of those, offered a place | 76 (78%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 442 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.7
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 | Islington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 8th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Islington. Higher than 93% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 54.1% | 51.0%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 11th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Islington. Higher than 21% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.8% | 3.7%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 11 state secondary schools in Islington. Higher than 75% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 17.4% | 17.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 11 state secondary schools in Islington. Higher than 93% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 52.0% | 33.9%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 10 state secondary schools in Islington. Lower than 49% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.4% | 9.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 10 state secondary schools in Islington. Lower than 56% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 22.3% | 25.3%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Islington. Lower than 92% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 2.5 | 24.8 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Islington. Lower than 92% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 1.6% | 8.8% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 10th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Islington. Higher than 2% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 12.5 | 14.8 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 5th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Islington. Higher than 29% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.9 | 10.8 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Islington. Higher than 49% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 13.0% | 17.8%* | 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
- The London Screen Academy 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · B- average A level grade
- City of London Academy Highbury Grove 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Mary Magdalene Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 71% grade 5+ English and maths
- North Bridge House Senior Canonbury School 0.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 33% A*/A at A level
- St Paul's Waldorf School 0.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- City of London Academy Islington 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2019), confirmed 2025 · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Arts and Media School Islington 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 28% grade 5+ English and maths
- Lift Beacon High 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022, before conversion) · 16% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Excelsior Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 40% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Highbury Fields School's Ofsted rating?
Highbury Fields School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 4 October 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 28 September 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.
How did Highbury Fields School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 62% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 17 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Highbury Fields School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 98 families put Highbury Fields School as their first choice for 136 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 76 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 100455.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.