Harris Academy Bermondsey, London

In its own words: "Being uncompromising yet caring is at the heart of all we do. We have unapologetically high expectations of the girls in our care and the staff who teach and support them. This is set against a backdrop of being relentlessly bothered about the well-being, progress and success of our academy body."

From the headteacher's welcome: "With expert teachers, exciting enrichment opportunities, and a focus on leadership, this is a place where you can grow, aim high, and shape your future. Scholarship - HAB6 students are curious learners who are eager to critique, challenge and test knowledge and application in all subjects."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, cricket, choir, guitar, coding, STEM, eco club, Duke of Edinburgh and homework club.

In 2026, pupils at Harris Academy Bermondsey averaged an Attainment 8 score of 54.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.7 in Southwark and 47 across England.

57% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 53% in Southwark and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 54.6.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.55: 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 49.9, against 60.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Spanish.

For September 2026 entry, 88 families put Harris Academy Bermondsey as their first choice and 284 named it as one of their preferences, for 115 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 Harris Academy Bermondsey are City of London Academy (Southwark) (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49); The Charter School Bermondsey (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.9); St Michael's Catholic College (0.5 miles, Attainment 8 58.7); and Ark Walworth Academy (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44).

Harris Academy Bermondsey's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Harris Academy Bermondsey is one of 59 schools run by Harris Federation, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.5 in 2024/25.

90 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Harris Academy Bermondsey (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 86% say their child is happy there and 71% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (71%).

Of the 164 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 95% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 21% to a further education college and 1% to an apprenticeship.

Of the 33 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 85% went on to university or other higher education and 6% into work. 27% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

52% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 43.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (38%), Asian (15%) and Mixed (11%).

In 2026, 67 pupils (8.6%) received SEN support and 12 (1.5%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest Underground station is Bermondsey Underground Station, about 690 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Harris Academy (->e), 50 metres away.

In 2024/25, Harris Academy Bermondsey issued 48 suspensions, 5.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Harris Academy Bermondsey are Boutcher Church of England Primary School (0.2 miles), St James' Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles), St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles) and Phoenix Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.