Cumberland Community School, London

In its own words: "Cumberland Community School is an ambitious school, within a diverse and exciting community. Our motto, 'Determined, Ambitious Learners,' encompasses all of our school community: students, staff and governors. Our commitment to providing the best opportunities to learn and excel goes hand in hand with our commitment to equal opportunities and effective inclusion."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Since our opening in 1972, our school has evolved significantly, moving across three different sites, with thousands of students passing through our doors. Today, we find ourselves at a vibrant and exciting stage in our journey, marked by exceptional growth and sustained improvements in all areas."

In 2026, pupils at Cumberland Community School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.6 in Newham and 47 across England.

56% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 54% in Newham and 47% in England.

That is down from 52.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.71: pupils made well above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 52.5, against 46.9 for other pupils at the school.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Spanish.

For September 2026 entry, 129 families put Cumberland Community School as their first choice and 881 named it as one of their preferences, for 252 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Cumberland Community School are Brampton Manor Academy (0.3 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 61.2); Royal Docks Academy (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40); Rokeby School (0.8 miles, Attainment 8 48.4); and Lister Community School (0.9 miles, Attainment 8 48.1).

Cumberland Community School's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Cumberland Community School is one of 7 schools run by Community Schools Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 53.5 in 2024/25.

Of the 297 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 29% to a further education college and 0% into work.

60.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 49.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (36%), Black (23%) and Mixed (16%).

In 2026, 118 pupils (9%) received SEN support and 58 (4.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.

Cumberland Community School has a resourced provision for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 20 places, 20 pupils on roll.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Prince Regent, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bennett Road, 200 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Cumberland Community School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Cumberland Community School issued 20 suspensions, 1.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 5 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Cumberland Community School are Tollgate Primary School (under 0.1 miles), New City Primary School (0.3 miles), Kaizen Primary School (0.3 miles) and Roman Road Primary School (0.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.