Harefield School
Uxbridge, UB9 6ET · Hillingdon · secondary school
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22nd of 22 secondary schools in Hillingdon we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.8/10 against 414 of them, against 0.5/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 12 | 35% | 0.41 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 13.2 · 1 | 30% | 0.02 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.66 · 10 | 25% | 0.24 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 33.8 · 4 | 10% | 0.04 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Harefield School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 20.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 37.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.66 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 (1.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.7 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in May 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 287 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,000. 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 and feedback?
What Ofsted said about Harefield School
Overview
Harefield School is described as a "calm and purposeful learning environment" where pupils feel safe and value the "warm and caring environment" created by staff. While leaders have successfully improved attendance, behaviour, and inclusion since joining the trust in 2024, the report identifies that pupils make "inconsistent progress" and that teaching is not yet consistently effective across all subjects.
Strengths
- Leaders have established a "well understood and increasingly effective culture of positive behaviour," with bullying being rare and incidents dealt with quickly.
- Attendance has shown "demonstrable improvement" through strategies such as breakfast provision and targeted rewards, reducing persistent absence.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are "especially well supported to settle in quickly," with robust systems for identifying needs upon arrival.
- The personal development programme is "well-constructed," promoting a harmonious community and providing comprehensive pastoral support.
- The sixth form offers a "supportive and inclusive environment" with personalised learning pathways and a structured careers programme.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure teachers have the skills to "accurately check pupils' knowledge and skills" so that gaps in learning are addressed and pupils can build on their learning step by step.
- Leaders should embed "highly effective teaching across the school" by ensuring lesson activities are chosen appropriately so pupils know and remember key knowledge as intended.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 37.7 |
| 2024/25 | 37.1 |
| 2025/26 | 33.8 |
| 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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