Haberdashers' Crayford Academy
Dartford, DA1 4RS · Bexley · secondary school
Check the area around this school
10th of 16 secondary schools in Bexley 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 — 4.9/10 against 524 of them, against 3.1/10 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 33.3 · 21 | 30% | 0.63 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.13 · 40 | 25% | 1.00 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.8 · 38 | 10% | 0.38 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Haberdashers' Crayford Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 39.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 45.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.13 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2023. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.1 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,078 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,150. 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
With a Progress 8 score of -0.13, how does the school support students to close the gap between their starting point and their final results? Since the last inspection was in January 2023, what changes have been made to the curriculum since then? How does the school manage class sizes given the current roll of 1078?
What Ofsted said about Haberdashers' Crayford Academy
Overview
Haberdashers’ Crayford Academy is described as a school where pupils are part of a "strong and inclusive community" that respects and supports one another. Leaders have designed a "broad and ambitious curriculum" that is well sequenced, helping pupils build knowledge and skills in increasing depth over time. The report highlights that pupils enjoy school, behave well, and are safe, with leaders maintaining high expectations that pupils meet most of the time.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate "kindness and consideration" and take on leadership roles, such as anti-bullying ambassadors, contributing to a positive environment where bullying is rare.
- The curriculum is enriched with diverse opportunities, including vocational courses, a string ensemble, gospel choir, and clubs like chess and modern foreign languages.
- Teachers possess "good subject knowledge" and provide effective feedback, while sixth-form lessons promote "discussion and debate" to deepen learning.
- Leaders prioritise pastoral care, providing age-appropriate information on relationships, health, and diversity, alongside robust careers guidance.
- Staff are well supported regarding workload and well-being, and trustees ensure "rigorous oversight" of key areas such as safeguarding.
Areas to improve
- In Years 7 to 11, some teachers do not secure pupils’ knowledge and understanding effectively before moving on, leading to gaps in learning.
- Some selected activities are not well suited to intended learning outcomes, hindering pupils’ ability to embed knowledge.
- Leaders should ensure teachers become more skilled in strategies to help pupils "secure essential knowledge and build progressively" on previous learning.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders establishing a "strong culture of safeguarding" and staff reporting concerns swiftly to secure help for vulnerable pupils.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 44.3 |
| 2024/25 | 45.2 |
| 2025/26 | 43.8 |
| 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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