Harefield School, Uxbridge

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Harefield School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "While attendance remains below national figures, leaders' strategies have led to a demonstrable improvement in attendance over time."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have secure systems in place to identify pupils' needs when they join the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The trust took over the running of the school in 2024."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a personal development programme that meets the needs of pupils and promotes a harmonious and caring school community."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Students, including those joining from other institutions, are welcomed warmly and supported to settle into the provision quickly."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils make inconsistent progress through the curriculum."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "While leaders have introduced a broad and ambitious curriculum for all pupils, it is not taught consistently well across all subjects."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers have the skills they need to accurately check pupils' knowledge and skills so that pupils are ready to build on their learning step by step"; "Leaders should ensure that they embed highly effective teaching across the school so that all pupils achieve well. For example, leaders should ensure that teaching chooses appropriate lesson activities so that pupils know and remember the key knowledge as is intended in the curriculum".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to The Harefield School, where learning is not just an experience but an exciting journey. We are a school driven by an unwavering commitment to the highest standards of achievement and personal growth."

In 2026, pupils at Harefield School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 33.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.6 in Hillingdon and 47 across England.

13% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 47% in Hillingdon and 47% in England.

That is down from 37.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.66: pupils made well below 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 31.4, against 36.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 4.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 14 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Business Studies and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 54 families put Harefield School as their first choice and 156 named it as one of their preferences, for 77 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 Harefield School are The Reach Free School (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.7); Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School (2.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.6); Haydon School (2.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.9); and Rickmansworth School (2.8 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 63.7).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Harefield School.

Harefield 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.

Of the 55 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 46% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 29 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 21% went on to university or other higher education, 21% to apprenticeships and 14% into work.

46.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 63 pupils (22%) received SEN support and 24 (8.4%) 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.

Harefield School had 21 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Haste Hill (Ruislip Lido Railway), about 2 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Harefield Academy (->e), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 30 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Hillingdon (256).

In 2024/25, Harefield School issued 147 suspensions, 57.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Harefield School are Harefield Infant and Junior School (0.5 miles), St Mary's Rickmansworth CofE Primary School (1.6 miles) and Holy Trinity CofE Primary School (1.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.