Greatfields School, Barking

In its own words: "We opened in September 2016 and currently have Years 7-13, with approximately 1245 students on roll. At Greatfields, our vision is simple: every learner should be known, challenged and empowered. We want every young person to achieve highly, but also to develop the confidence, character and ambition to make the most of the opportunities ahead of them."

Coming up: an open evening on Friday 30 October 2026, an open evening on Wednesday 11 November 2026, an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026 at 4.30pm and an open evening on Thursday 11 February 2027 at 3.30pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Greatfields School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.4 in Barking and Dagenham and 47 across England.

45% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in Barking and Dagenham and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 45.6.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.3: pupils made 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 39.4, against 50.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Business Studies and History.

For September 2026 entry, 145 families put Greatfields School as their first choice and 359 named it as one of their preferences, for 166 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Greatfields School are Langdon Academy (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52.2); Eastbury Community School (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47); Barking Abbey School, A Specialist Sports and Humanities College (1 mile, Outstanding, Attainment 8 48.7); and Loxford School (1.2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 54.1).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Greatfields School.

Greatfields School is one of 20 schools run by Partnership Learning, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49.4 in 2024/25.

10 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Greatfields School (as of September 2025): 20% would recommend the school, 40% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (80%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (10%).

Of the 205 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 32% to a further education college and 1% into work.

Of the 62 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 71% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 10% into work.

35% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 73% 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 (30%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 155 pupils (12.4%) received SEN support and 14 (1.1%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest Underground station is Barking Underground Station, about 780 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Margarets, 100 metres away.

In 2024/25, Greatfields School issued 163 suspensions, 13.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 8 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Greatfields School are Greatfields Primary School (under 0.1 miles), Gascoigne Primary School (0.2 miles), Ripple Primary School (0.3 miles) and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.