Waterside Academy
London, E8 4DL · Hackney · secondary school
Check the area around this school
7th of 16 secondary schools in Hackney 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 — 8.4/10 against 205 of them, against 6.3/10 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 | 86 | 35% | 3.03 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 40.4 · 38 | 30% | 1.16 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 1.04 · 98 | 25% | 2.45 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.5 · 47 | 10% | 0.47 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Waterside Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 41.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. The Attainment 8 score was 44.6, matching the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 stood at +1.04 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.4 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.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Cooking Club, participate in kayaking and gym sessions, and take part in drama performances.
Getting in
The published school roll is 351 pupils against a stated capacity of 500. 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 maintain the progress seen in the 2023/24 data? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their English and maths attainment?
What Ofsted said about Waterside Academy
Overview
Waterside Academy is described as a school where pupils achieve “extremely well” and benefit from a “highly ambitious and well-planned curriculum.” The inspection highlights a “calm, purposeful environment” characterised by strong leadership, excellent behaviour, and a “highly inclusive” culture that supports all pupils, particularly those with additional needs or from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Strengths
- Pupils make “strong progress” and achieve well, with disadvantaged pupils performing particularly well compared to national averages.
- Behaviour is “excellent” and “extremely positive,” with pupils showing high levels of respect and bullying being rare.
- The curriculum is “highly ambitious,” with teachers using “high-quality resources” and effective coaching to ensure pupils build secure knowledge.
- The school is “highly inclusive,” providing “well-targeted, bespoke support” for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
- Leaders demonstrate a “clear and ambitious vision,” maintaining rigorous monitoring systems and fostering a positive staff culture.
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an “open culture in which safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility” and concerns being “actively identified, acted upon and managed.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.2 |
| 2024/25 | 44.6 |
| 2025/26 | 45.5 |
| 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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