Harris Garrard Academy
Erith, DA18 4DW · Bexley · all-through school
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6th 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 — 8.5/10 against 471 of them, against 6.8/10 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 | 87 | 35% | 3.04 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 46.4 · 54 | 30% | 1.62 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.54 · 85 | 25% | 2.13 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 49.2 · 67 | 10% | 0.67 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Harris Garrard Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 46.2% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 48.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.54 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally starting from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.8 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in April 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Harris Experience. Sports include ice skating, go karting, laser tag, and paintballing. Arts features the Battle of the Bands. Trips visit the Imperial War Museum, Science Museum, Greenwich Planetarium, Tower of London, Whittington Tour, Chessington World of Adventures, Christie’s auction house, and University of Oxford. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,505 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,780. 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 new Ofsted framework affect current teaching priorities? What support is available for
What Ofsted said about Harris Garrard Academy
Overview
Harris Garrard Academy is an all-through school where leaders have established "exceptionally high" quality of teaching and a curriculum that is "ambitious, broad and taught to a consistently high standard." Pupils feel "challenged and inspired," benefiting from a "calm and orderly" environment where staff maintain "warm and respectful" relationships. The report highlights that pupils are "exceptionally well supported to succeed" across all phases, from the early years to the sixth form.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "expertly designed" with "clear routines" that help pupils embed knowledge in their "long-term memory."
- Early years provision is "exceptional," offering a "calm, purposeful and joyful" start where staff know every child "extremely well."
- Personal development is "exceptionally rich," helping pupils develop character, understand "protected characteristics," and challenge discrimination.
- Inclusion is "fully embedded," with "highly effective partnership work" ensuring disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND receive "timely and effective help."
- Leadership is described as "resilient and expert," with governance that is "highly effective" and holds leaders to account with rigour.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should "continue their work to embed strategies to improve how well students learn and achieve in the post-16 provision," addressing variability in some sixth-form outcomes.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" ensuring pupils are "made safer and feel safe."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 47.5 |
| 2024/25 | 48.1 |
| 2025/26 | 49.2 |
| 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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