City Heights E-ACT Academy
London, SW2 3PW · Lambeth · secondary school
Check the area around this school
16th of 16 secondary schools in Lambeth 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 — 2.8/10 against 255 of them, against 1.4/10 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 | 11 | 35% | 0.39 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 24.0 · 7 | 30% | 0.20 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.37 · 23 | 25% | 0.57 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 37.8 · 12 | 10% | 0.12 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
City Heights E-ACT Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 24.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.37 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.6 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in December 2025 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join debate, public speaking, and British Sign Language clubs, alongside creative arts activities.
Getting in
The published school roll is 460 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,100. 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 school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How does the new Ofsted framework affect day-to-day teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about City Heights E-ACT Academy
Overview
City Heights E-ACT Academy is described as a school where pupils are "safe and happy" within a "calm and orderly" environment. Leaders have successfully improved attendance and behaviour, creating a supportive culture where staff are well-supported and committed to pupil wellbeing. However, the report notes that "pupils do not consistently achieve as well as they could" due to variable curriculum delivery and inconsistent teaching standards across subjects.
Strengths
- Attendance rates are improving, with leaders effectively identifying barriers and working closely with families to reduce persistent absence.
- Behaviour is generally positive, with bullying incidents being rare and staff taking a "caring approach" to concerns.
- There is a "broad and ambitious personal development programme" that includes enrichment activities, cultural trips, and careers guidance.
- Leaders show a strong commitment to inclusion, with effective systems to identify needs for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
- Staff feel well supported, appreciating the professional learning opportunities and the school’s approach to wellbeing and workload.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure teachers use assessment effectively to identify knowledge gaps and embed learning, as some pupils lack strong foundations.
- Staff need to be fully equipped to adapt teaching consistently for all pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
- Leaders should secure strong foundations in core subjects to ensure pupils acquire deeper knowledge and are better prepared for their next steps.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed to ensure pupils feel safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 36.7 |
| 2024/25 | 40.6 |
| 2025/26 | 37.8 |
| 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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