Royal Docks Academy
London, E16 3HS · Newham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
20th of 20 secondary schools in Newham we can score, 21 in total — the rest without enough published data. 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 — 4.8/10 against 136 of them, against 2.4/10 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 | 36.1 · 28 | 30% | 0.83 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.41 · 20 | 25% | 0.50 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.0 · 20 | 10% | 0.20 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Royal Docks Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 41.3% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 for 2023/24 was -0.41, 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 (5.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.1 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in January 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 849 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,200. 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 steps are taken to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the new Ofsted framework affect day-to-day teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Royal Docks Academy
Overview
Royal Docks Academy is an inclusive school where pupils, particularly disadvantaged learners and those with special educational needs, generally achieve well. While attendance has improved markedly and behaviour is typically calm, the report identifies inconsistencies in teaching quality and a lack of clarity in the personal development programme.
Strengths
- Disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) achieve well, with outcomes matching or exceeding national peers in some subjects.
- Attendance has improved significantly due to robust monitoring and staff working sensitively with families to remove barriers.
- Pupils are polite, respectful, and feel safe, with bullying dealt with swiftly and fairly.
- Leaders have created an inclusive culture, ensuring all pupils, including those with complex needs, access a rich programme of wider activities and work experience.
- A large pastoral team provides effective support, and pupils are clear about who to approach with concerns.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must strengthen teaching methods to ensure staff apply them consistently, particularly in checking pupils’ understanding and identifying those who are quietly disengaged.
- A clear vision and set of aims for the personal development programme must be developed and communicated so pupils understand their goals.
- Staff need better access to up-to-date information to ensure lesson adaptations align closely with individual pupils’ learning plans.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where concerns are actively identified, acted upon, and managed to keep pupils safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 40.4 |
| 2024/25 | 39.6 |
| 2025/26 | 40.0 |
| 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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