SchoolScoresWaterside Academy
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TRUST
317-319 Kingsland Road, London, E8 4DL
020 3870 7500 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 27 January 2026 , published 14 May 2026.
In short: 6 strong, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
19 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Higher than 51% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school Higher than 53% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Higher than 70% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 17 parents who had raised a concern Higher than 39% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 11 parents of children with SEND Higher than 44% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 55% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Higher than 44% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79%said yes | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 5%). 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. 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.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
78 pupils in this year group.
41% — 8 points below the Hackney average, and 4 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hackney | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 41% | 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. | 44.6 | 50.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.1 | 4.6 | 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.
90 pupils in this year group.
79% — 13 points below the Hackney average, and 13 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hackney | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 79% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 17% | 53% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 20% | 10% | 13% |
| Further education college | 33% | 26% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 1% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 95% | 79% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 46 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 18 |
| Of those, offered a place | 18 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 120 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.6 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.4
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 | Hackney | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney. Higher than 99% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 64.4% | 52.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney. Higher than 91% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 5.9% | 4.6%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 16th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney. Higher than 7% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.2% | 15.6%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney. Higher than 87% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 39.6% | 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) 11th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney. Lower than 38% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 25.8% | 21.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney. Lower than 50% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.4 | 19.5 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 6th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Hackney. Lower than 48% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.0% | 10.0% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.27% | 0.35% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 14th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Hackney. Higher than 0% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 10.6 | 14.6 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 14th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Hackney. Higher than 3% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.7 | 11.0 | 11.8 |
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.
Nearby secondary schools
- The Bridge Academy 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 62% grade 5+ English and maths
- Haggerston School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022, before conversion) · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- City of London Academy, Shoreditch Park 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 59% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Paul's Waldorf School 0.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Mulberry Academy Shoreditch 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 40% grade 5+ English and maths
- City of London Academy Islington 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2019), confirmed 2025 · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Oaklands School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 54% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Excelsior Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 40% grade 5+ English and maths
- North Bridge House Senior Canonbury School 1.0 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 33% A*/A at A level
- Central Foundation Boys' School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 69% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Waterside Academy's Ofsted rating?
Waterside Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 27 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 strong, and safeguarding was met.
How did Waterside Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 41% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 4 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Waterside Academy?
79% of the 19 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Waterside Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Waterside Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 18 families put Waterside Academy as their first choice for 46 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 18 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 147653.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.