Harris Lowe Academy Willesden, London

In its own words: "Harris Lowe Academy Willesden has been open since 2023, is Ofsted rated 'Good' in all categories, and our students routinely achieve some of the best outcomes nationally. Our staff, students and families are united in striving to make our academy the best it can possibly be, captured in our vision: This is more than a statement."

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Harris Lowe Academy Willesden Sixth Form, we make it our mission to guarantee the best opportunities for our students. Our students succeed because of our high expectations which are underpinned by high levels of support. We offer a variety of pathways, world-class sporting academies, and a personal development offer which fosters ambitious aspirations for a range of future pathways."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, athletics, basketball, chess and Duke of Edinburgh.

Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 18 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Harris Lowe Academy Willesden averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 51.1 in Brent and 47 across England.

37% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 54% in Brent and 47% in England.

That is up from 41.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.23: 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 40.8, against 46.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 5.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 79 families put Harris Lowe Academy Willesden as their first choice and 285 named it as one of their preferences, for 158 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 Lowe Academy Willesden are Newman Catholic College (0.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 36); Saint Claudine's Catholic School for Girls (0.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.6); Queens Park Community School (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.4); and North Brent School (1 mile, Good, Attainment 8 51.8).

Harris Lowe Academy Willesden's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Harris Lowe Academy Willesden 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.

164 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Harris Lowe Academy Willesden (as of September 2025): 77% would recommend the school, 81% say their child is happy there and 37% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (84%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (37%).

Of the 168 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 95% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 28% to a further education college and 1% into work.

Of the 114 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 56% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 18% into work. 12% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

49.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 56.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (34%), other ethnic groups (26%) and Mixed (11%).

In 2026, 80 pupils (7%) received SEN support and 25 (2.2%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Willesden Junction Station, about 790 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Roundwood Park, 240 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Harris Lowe Academy Willesden 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, Harris Lowe Academy Willesden issued 318 suspensions, 28.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Harris Lowe Academy Willesden are Donnington Primary School (0.2 miles), Furness Primary School (0.4 miles), Newfield Primary School (0.4 miles) and Kenmont Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.