Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular emoji_events #3 in Enfield public Top 6% UK

Highlands School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Vincent McInerney

location_onLondon, N21 1QQ

language Visit Website phone 2083701100

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,547

trending_up

Attainment 8

55.6

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GCSE Rank

#3 in Enfield

#437 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Highlands School is a Community school secondary school in London, serving ages 11-18. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.4×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Highlands School is a community school in London, Enfield, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. The school has approximately 1,650 pupils on roll, of whom 18% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 55.6, placing the school #3 in Enfield and #437 of 3,216 nationally. 64.70% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 30.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 22 A-level subjects. 55.4% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 23.6% at A*–A. A-level value added: +0.24 — students made above-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.4× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.6 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

55.6

Grade 5+ E&M

64.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)30.4%

Entering EBacc88.10%

EBacc APS5.33

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.42

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

54.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc84.40%

EBacc APS5.11

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.52

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

54.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc77%

EBacc APS4.97

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.25

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

53.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc44%

EBacc APS4.7

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc69%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.44

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

53.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc56%

EBacc APS4.75

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.34

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS4.33

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)94%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)96%

Apprenticeships1%

EmploymentSP%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships1%

EmploymentSP%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.24

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

144

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*5.3%

Achieving A*–A23.6%

Achieving A*–B55.4%

VA Banding Above average

Retention rate93.1%

A-level subjects offered22

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.4

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils do significantly better than expected at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

108

Retention rate93.50%

2023

Avg Grade

B-

Students

116

Retention rate93.10%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

111

Retention rate95.5%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

05 November 2024

Inspection Report

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13 July 2021

Inspection Report

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06 March 2014

Inspection Report

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16 March 2011

Inspection Report

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28 January 2009

Inspection Report

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18 October 2007

Inspection Report

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27 November 2006

Inspection Report

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24 March 2003

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-11-05

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2014-03-06

Exempt School Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2011-03-16

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

1.3%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.3%(21 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,650 pupils. During this period, there were 22 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.3%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,650	22	1.3%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,664	32	1.9%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,592	21	1.3%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,599	25	1.6%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,598	28	1.8%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,543	26	1.7%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,547	30	1.9%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,553	23	1.5%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,548	35	2.3%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,561	53	3.4%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,575	38	2.4%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,565	31	2.0%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,558	7	0.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,569	25	1.6%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,531	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,531	33	2.2%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,542	54	3.5%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,525	29	1.9%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,540	38	2.5%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,549	63	4.1%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,582	73	4.6%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,582	52	3.3%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,589	53	3.3%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,530	45	2.9%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,546	37	2.4%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,553	47	3.0%	3.1%	1

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Specific Learning Difficulty 54 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 44 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 38 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 26 pupils

Hearing Impairment 18 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 16 pupils

Physical Disability 7 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

90.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

94.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

17.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree56%

agree35%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree37%

agree45%

disagree12%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree32%

agree23%

disagree11%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

not applicable28%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes17%

no83%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree28%

agree29%

disagree23%

strongly disagree17%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree49%

agree38%

disagree6%

strongly disagree1%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree43%

agree43%

disagree9%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree39%

agree47%

disagree11%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree51%

agree45%

disagree3%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree49%

agree44%

disagree4%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree38%

agree39%

disagree12%

strongly disagree3%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes90%

no10%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Enfield

The Latymer School

Wren Academy Enfield

St Anne's Catholic High School for Girls

St Ignatius College

Enfield County School for Girls

Ark John Keats Academy