Heathcote School & Science College
London, E4 6ES · Waltham Forest · secondary school
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13th of 17 secondary schools in Waltham Forest 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 — 3.8/10 against 870 of them, against 3.7/10 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 44.2 · 48 | 30% | 1.43 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.37 · 23 | 25% | 0.57 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.0 · 39 | 10% | 0.39 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Heathcote School & Science College overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, following an inspection in 2024-04. In 2024/25, 44.4% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.1, 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 (4.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,115 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,260. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8?
What Ofsted said about Heathcote School & Science College
Overview
Heathcote School & Science College continues to be a good school, offering a "warm and friendly" environment where pupils feel safe and happy. Leaders have successfully raised expectations for behaviour and academic provision, resulting in attendance that is "well above national averages." The school provides a broad curriculum with strong support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Strengths
- The school’s work to support attendance is described as "exemplary," with clear strategies reducing absences significantly.
- Support for pupils with SEND is "well thought out," with staff effectively adapting learning to ensure success across the curriculum.
- The curriculum is "broad and balanced" and has become more ambitious, helping pupils know and remember subject content better over time.
- Pupils benefit from an "ambitious, inclusive and well-planned" wider offer, including cultural trips, sports clubs, and safeguarding workshops.
- Staff enjoy working at the school and value the support received for their workload and well-being.
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure pupils’ understanding is "systematically checked and addressed" to prevent misconceptions when moving to new learning.
- In a small number of subjects, the curriculum must be organised to revisit key learning and vocabulary regularly to aid long-term memory.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.4 |
| 2024/25 | 46.1 |
| 2025/26 | 44.0 |
| 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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