The City Academy, Hackney

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of CITY OF LONDON ACADEMIES TRUST

Homerton Row, Hackney, London, E9 6EA

020 8525 5440 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 28 March 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths48%England 45% · 2024/25
7th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney.
Higher than 62% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,149Room for 1,170 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,133 in 2019, 1,157 in 2021, 1,152 in 2022, 1,138 in 2023, 1,145 in 2024, 1,152 in 2025, 1,149 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0165 for 173 places, September 2026
6th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney.
Higher than 50% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 28 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 educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
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

188 pupils in this year group.

48% — about the same as the Hackney average, and 3 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHackneyEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 48% 49% 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. 49.1 50.5 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.5 4.6 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 55%This school 2023/24: 59%This school 2024/25: 48% This school England 45% 2022/23 55% 2023/24 59% 2024/25 48%

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.

189 pupils in this year group.

93% — about the same as the Hackney average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHackneyEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 93% 92% 92%
School sixth form 54% 53% 34%
Sixth form college 15% 10% 13%
Further education college 20% 26% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 1% 3%
Work 0% 1% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%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

89 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolHackneyEngland
Average A level grade B- B- B-
A level exams graded A* or A 24% 29% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 54% 58% 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. 36.8 36.8 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 36.0This school 2023/24: 35.1This school 2024/25: 36.8 This school England 35 2022/23 36.0 2023/24 35.1 2024/25 36.8

A level subjects, 2024/25

20 subjects, 228 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Mathematics 39 10% 28% 40%
Economics 25 4% 44% 26%
Psychology 24 8% 21% 19%
Sociology 19 16% 32% 20%
English Literature 18 6% 22% 23%
Biology 14 14% 29% 27%
Computer Studies / Computing 11 0% 9% 24%
Religious Studies 11 0% 9% 22%
Business Studies:Single 9 11% 11% 16%
Chemistry 9 22% 33% 30%
History 9 11% 11% 23%
Physics 9 0% 0% 31%
Art and Design (3d Studies) 8 25% 50% 28%
Mathematics (Further) 8 13% 13% 59%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Geography, Art and Design (Fine Art), Physical Education / Sports Studies, Turkish, Art and Design (Textiles), 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.

90 students in this year group.

91% — 12 points above the Hackney average, and 12 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHackneyEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 91% 79% 79%
Apprenticeship 6% 3% 7%
Work 12% 14% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
91%91%

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.

96 students in this year group.

76% — about the same as the Hackney average, and 16 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHackneyEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 76% 76% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 22% 27% 19%

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

2023/242024/25
86%76%

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 Hackney. 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 one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered173
Families who put it first165
Of those, offered a place129 (78%)
Families who listed it at all779

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0

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 Hackney

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolHackneyEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
8th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney.
Higher than 95% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
56.7% 52.7%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
6th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney.
Higher than 84% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.9% 4.6%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
7th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney.
Higher than 59% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
15.0% 15.6%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
9th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney.
Higher than 87% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
39.8% 38.3%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
Joint 6th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney.
Lower than 59% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.8% 7.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
7th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney.
Lower than 57% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
22.1% 21.8%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
6th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney.
Lower than 49% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
15.1 19.5 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
10th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney.
Lower than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.9% 10.0% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.09% 0.35% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 10th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Hackney.
Higher than 4% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
13.3 14.6 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
10th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Hackney.
Higher than 20% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.4 11.0 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
15th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Hackney.
Higher than 20% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
8.6% 20.0%* 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 The City Academy, Hackney's Ofsted rating?

The City Academy, Hackney was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 28 March 2023.

How did The City Academy, Hackney do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 48% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 3 points above the England average of 45%.

Is The City Academy, Hackney oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 165 families put The City Academy, Hackney as their first choice for 173 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 129 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.