UKSchoolSearch
OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 144962

City of London Academy Highbury Grove

Academy sponsor led · London · N5 2EQ

Ages 11–18 · 892 pupils · Islington

School website

Ofsted

Good

Attainment 8

47.2

Overall absence

10.3%

Admissions demand

0.69 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2022-04-26

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+0.09
−20+2
Attainment 847.2
English & maths grade 5+52%
English & maths grade 4+67%
EBacc entry52%

EBacc APS: 4.4

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence10.3%
Persistent absence (10%+)28.5%
Unauthorised8.7%
Authorised absence
1.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
4.5%
Enrolments in measure
1,072

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.69 · Often has places

1st preferences

123

Places offered

188

1st-preference offers

123

Total preferences (any rank)
570
Preferred offers (top 3)
187
Applications from outside LA
132
Offers to outside-LA applicants
36
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill74%

892 pupils · 1,200 places

Pupils on roll
892
Boys / girls
565 / 327
School capacity
1,200
Capacity fill
892 / 1,200 (74%)
Free school meals
58.9%
FSM pupils
488
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: CITY OF LONDON ACADEMIES TRUST
Academy trust
CITY OF LONDON ACADEMIES TRUST
Sponsor
City of London Academies Trust
Headteacher
Ms Aimee Lyall

Location

Address
8 Highbury Grove, Islington
Postcode
N5 2EQ
Town
London
Local authority
Islington
District
Islington
Constituency
Islington North
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy sponsor led (secondary), Ages 11–18, in London, Islington, 892 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 58.9%.

Open schools in London
1846
Secondary schools in London
249
Academies among open schools in London
23% (427)
Open schools in N5
9
Secondary in N5
2
Open schools in Islington LA
72
Secondary in Islington LA
9

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in LondonNear N5

  • Highbury Fields School

    Ofsted: School remains Outstanding

    Community school · Secondary

    London · N5 1AR · Islington

    Ages 11–18

    • Att851.4
    • P80.4
    • EM5+57%
    • Absence9.0%

    0.3 miles away

  • Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Secondary

    London · N16 9EX · Hackney

    Ages 11–19

    • Att852.2
    • P80.3
    • EM5+56%
    • Absence8.0%

    0.8 miles away

  • City of London Academy Islington

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    London · N1 8PQ · Islington

    Ages 11–18

    • Att845.5
    • P80.1
    • EM5+37%
    • Absence10.8%

    0.9 miles away

  • The Excelsior Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    London · E8 2EY · Hackney

    Ages 11–18

    • Att849.5
    • P80.5
    • EM5+48%
    • Absence7.8%

    1.1 miles away

  • Waterside Academy

    Ofsted: Strong standard

    Free schools · Secondary

    London · E8 4DL · Hackney

    Ages 11–16

    • Att848.2
    • P81.0
    • EM5+60%
    • Absence7.2%

    1.2 miles away

  • Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Community school · Secondary

    London · N1 9QG · Islington

    Ages 11–16

    • Att854.0
    • P80.2
    • EM5+64%
    • Absence8.9%

    1.3 miles away

  • Arts and Media School Islington

    Ofsted: Good

    Foundation school · Secondary

    London · N4 3LS · Islington

    Ages 11–16

    • Att845.0
    • P80.2
    • EM5+49%
    • Absence13.3%

    1.4 miles away

  • The Bridge Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    London · E2 8BA · Hackney

    Ages 11–19

    • Att855.3
    • P80.5
    • EM5+65%
    • Absence8.0%

    1.5 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Ms Aimee Lyall
Telephone
02072888900
Website
www.highburygrove.cola.org.uk

Official links