Paddington Academy

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

Part of UNITED LEARNING TRUST

50 Marylands Road, London, W9 2DR

020 7479 3900 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedOutstandingInspected 13 March 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths77%England 45% · 2024/25
2nd highest of 11 state secondary schools in Westminster.
Higher than 94% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,256Room for 1,200 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,216 in 2019, 1,235 in 2021, 1,234 in 2022, 1,232 in 2023, 1,259 in 2024, 1,259 in 2025, 1,256 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.7296 for 174 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 10 state secondary schools in Westminster.
Higher than 96% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 13 March 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 educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Sixth formOutstanding
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

185 pupils in this year group.

77% — 19 points above the Westminster average, and 32 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWestminsterEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 77% 58% 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. 61.6 53.2 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 5.9 5.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 68%This school 2023/24: 73%This school 2024/25: 77% This school England 45% 2022/23 68% 2023/24 73% 2024/25 77%

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.

174 pupils in this year group.

90% — 4 points below the Westminster average, and 2 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 77%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolWestminsterEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 90% 94% 92%
School sixth form 77% 64% 34%
Sixth form college 9% 7% 13%
Further education college 4% 19% 37%
Apprenticeship 0% – 3%
Work 1% 1% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%90%

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

94 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolWestminsterEngland
Average A level grade B- B- B-
A level exams graded A* or A 25% 36% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 66% 67% 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. 37.8 37.9 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 45 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 41.6This school 2023/24: 41.3This school 2024/25: 37.8 This school England 35 2022/23 41.6 2023/24 41.3 2024/25 37.8

A level subjects, 2024/25

18 subjects, 280 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Mathematics 45 11% 36% 40%
Chemistry 29 0% 24% 30%
Biology 28 0% 14% 27%
Psychology 26 0% 8% 19%
Economics 25 12% 36% 26%
Government and Politics 23 13% 26% 26%
Business Studies:Single 21 14% 24% 16%
Sociology 16 13% 31% 20%
History 15 7% 40% 23%
English Literature 14 0% 21% 23%
Religious Studies 9 0% 11% 22%
Physical Education / Sports Studies 8 0% 0% 17%
Physics 8 0% 0% 31%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design, Arabic, Geography, French, Turkish.

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.

158 students in this year group.

76% — about the same as the Westminster average, and 3 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWestminsterEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 76% 76% 79%
Apprenticeship 1% 3% 7%
Work 11% 19% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
88%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.

157 students in this year group.

87% — 13 points above the Westminster average, and 27 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWestminsterEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 87% 74% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 43% 30% 19%

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

2023/242024/25
84%87%

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 Westminster. 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 about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered174
Families who put it first296
Of those, offered a place160 (54%)
Families who listed it at all720

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.6 · 2026: 1.7

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.

This is a Christian school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Westminster

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolWestminsterEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
5th highest of 12 state secondary schools in Westminster.
Higher than 91% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
51.4% 45.8%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
5th highest of 12 state secondary schools in Westminster.
Higher than 52% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.0% 2.9%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
11th highest of 12 state secondary schools in Westminster.
Higher than 13% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
8.3% 11.8%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
1st highest of 12 state secondary schools in Westminster.
Higher than 100% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
81.6% 48.4%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
1st lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Westminster.
Lower than 96% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
4.7% 7.7%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Westminster.
Lower than 97% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.1% 23.1%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
5th lowest of 12 state secondary schools in Westminster.
Lower than 83% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.8 12.1 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
5th lowest of 12 state secondary schools in Westminster.
Lower than 72% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.2% 7.4% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.05% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 12 state secondary schools in Westminster.
Higher than 54% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.0 15.1 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
3rd highest of 12 state secondary schools in Westminster.
Higher than 74% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.9 11.4 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 12 state secondary schools in Westminster.
Higher than 96% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
30.0% 18.1%* 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 Paddington Academy's Ofsted rating?

Paddington Academy was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 March 2023.

How did Paddington Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 77% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 32 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Paddington Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 296 families put Paddington Academy as their first choice for 174 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 160 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.