Hackney’s state schools are in the top tenth: better results than 95% of towns in England

The primary figure: 50 primaries in the town, 6,521 pupils in results over three years. The secondary figure: 16 secondaries in the town, 2,387 pupils in results. Mainstream state schools only (grammar schools included); special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19 colleges are listed below but not graded. Each school’s results are compared with every school in England, then weighted by its pupils.

Most schools give places by distance once siblings are in, so the schools nearest a home matter more than any league table.

The share of pupils on free school meals runs from 4% at Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls School to 71% at The Urswick School - A Church of England Secondary School. Against schools with the same intake, Southwold Primary School does best: 90% with 53% on free school meals, where a typical school would reach 54%. 49 of 50 primaries and 14 of 16 secondaries are above the line.

Free school meals: pupils eligible now, DfE January 2026 census. The typical-school line is a straight-line fit across every graded school in England. It describes; it doesn’t grade: the School Grade uses results alone.

Key result: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (GCSEs, 2025/26 provisional) for secondaries; the share meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (KS2, DfE’s three-year average) for primaries. Pupils: the January 2026 school census. No letter: an infant or first school (no KS2 tests), a new school, a small cohort DfE suppresses, or a special school, nursery or college. Independent schools aren’t included.

Ofsted stopped giving one-word judgements in 2024. Until a school is re-inspected, its last overall judgement is its most recent single grade; a school judged years ago may have changed a lot since.

Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each area of a school one of five grades (exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement) and says whether safeguarding is met, instead of one overall word. 7 of Hackney’s 73 state schools have a report card so far; the others show their last inspection under the old framework. Ofsted is never part of the School Grade.

14 of Hackney’s 16 state secondaries have sixth forms: All Saints, Cardinal Pole, City of London Academy, Shoreditch Park, Clapton Girls', Haggerston, Lubavitch House School (Senior Girls), Mossbourne Community, Mossbourne Victoria Park, Skinners', Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form, The Bridge, The City Academy, Hackney, The Excelsior and The Urswick. Workers' Educational Association, a further-education college, is in the London borough.

Hackney has 3 special schools (Ickburgh, Stormont House and The Garden: 519 pupils) and 2 alternative provision schools, for pupils who can’t attend mainstream school for a time. A special-school place isn’t applied for like a mainstream one: for a child with an education, health and care plan (EHCP), Hackney Council names the school in the plan, after asking the family’s preference. These schools have no letter, because their results don’t compare with mainstream schools’. Their cards ↑

Hackney Council’s SEND Local Offer lists support beyond these schools.

Hackney’s schools are graded at least as well as any neighbour’s. Small places often use the schools within 3 km, so neighbours can share schools.