Barking Abbey School, A Specialist Sports and Humanities College
Barking, IG11 9AG · Barking and Dagenham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
5th of 13 secondary schools in Barking and Dagenham we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 7.4/10 against 824 of them, against 6.1/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 94 | 35% | 3.29 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 52.3 · 67 | 30% | 2.02 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.02 · 52 | 25% | 1.30 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 48.7 · 64 | 10% | 0.64 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Barking Abbey School, A Specialist Sports and Humanities College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 50.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 49.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.02 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.1 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in March 2024.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join sports teams for netball, football, rugby, handball, table tennis, basketball, rounders, and cricket.
Getting in
The published school roll is 2,418 pupils against a stated capacity of 2,420. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the specialist sports college status influence the daily timetable? What support is available for pupils aiming to raise their Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Barking Abbey School, A Specialist Sports and Humanities College
Overview
This is a large and diverse school where leaders have set high expectations, reflected in the motto ‘give and expect the best’. Pupils demonstrate a very positive attitude to their education and are exceptionally well supported, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The school provides a calm and purposeful learning environment where pupils are fully prepared for the next stage of their education, employment or training.
Strengths
- Leaders have designed a ‘highly ambitious curriculum’ with careful consideration of content sequencing, allowing pupils to build on previous learning effectively.
- Teachers possess ‘excellent knowledge’ of their subjects and use effective strategies to identify and address gaps in pupils’ understanding swiftly.
- Pupils’ conduct is ‘exemplary’, with simple and clear rules ensuring learning is rarely disrupted and bullying concerns are dealt with swiftly.
- There is a ‘strong emphasis on the development of positive character habits’, supported by a rich set of experiences including sports academies, clubs, and community service.
- Leaders have developed a ‘very strong personalised careers programme’ that includes meaningful work experience and encourages pupils to become responsible, active citizens.
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.6 |
| 2024/25 | 49.7 |
| 2025/26 | 48.7 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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