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Heathcote School & Science College, London

Good
Secondary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 11–18

Heathcote School & Science College is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in London. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 210th-highest of the 266 schools in London with published results, and 1,988th of 3,298 across England. It was 76% full in 2025.

GCSE results
Below England average
Ofsted
Good (2018)
Demand
Oversubscribed
Attendance
In line with England
Progress (2024)
Below average
New inspections, open days and news, by email.

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days

Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Waltham Forest (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.

Data last updated 26 Oct 2026

Heathcote School & Science College in detail

Heathcote School & Science College in its own words

In its own words: "Welcome to Heathcote School. Our vision is to create a school that provides young people with a safe and happy learning environment that challenges and supports all learners to achieve their best outcomes through a creative, inspiring and enriched curriculum. Please use this page to navigate through some of the key areas of our school"

Vision and values (school website)

Source: The school's own website

Results

In 2026, pupils at Heathcote School & Science College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.7 in Waltham Forest and 47 across England.

44% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in Waltham Forest and 47% in England.

That is down from 46.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.37: pupils made 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 33.6, against 49 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Getting a place at Heathcote School & Science College

For September 2026 entry, 196 families put Heathcote School & Science College as their first choice and 562 named it as one of their preferences, for 171 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 43 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

Admissions history and your chances at Heathcote School & Science College

Compared with nearby schools

The nearest other state secondary schools to Heathcote School & Science College are Trinity Catholic High School (0.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52.4); Chingford Foundation School (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.9); Highams Park School (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.1); and Woodford County High School (1.3 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 81.2).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Heathcote School & Science College.

Trinity Catholic High SchoolChingford Foundation SchoolHighams Park SchoolWoodford County High School

Where pupils go next

Of the 194 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 91% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 33% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 85 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 64% went on to university or other higher education, 6% to apprenticeships and 14% into work. 16% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

Who goes there

32.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (35%), Mixed (14%) and Black (12%).

Heathcote School & Science College has a resourced provision for hearing impairment.

Getting there

The nearest railway station is Chingford Rail Station, about 770 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Kimberley Road (E4), 140 metres away.

The area around the school

In August 2026, police recorded 139 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Waltham Forest (663).

Suspensions and exclusions

In 2024/25, Heathcote School & Science College issued 103 suspensions, 9.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

Primary schools nearby

The primary schools closest to Heathcote School & Science College are Whitehall Primary School (under 0.1 miles), Chingford CofE Primary School (0.5 miles), St Mary's Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles) and Longshaw Primary Academy (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.

Whitehall Primary SchoolChingford CofE Primary SchoolSt Mary's Catholic Primary SchoolLongshaw Primary Academy

Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics

Location

Likely (~682m)Possible (~974m)Unlikely (~1.3km)

Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Ms Sonia Close
Pupils:1,115
LA:Waltham Forest
Phone:02084985110
Address:Normanton Park, Chingford, London, E4 6ES
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 3 years ago

This judgement is from September 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.

-

Overall

Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.

Inspected 28 February 2024View full report
URN:103097
UKPRN:10015752
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Chingford and Woodford Green
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

Ofsted rated this school Good at its September 2018 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.

Rated Good for

Leadership & management.

At a Glance

25.8%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

Resourced provision: Hearing

SEN Provision

No

Special Measures

Secondary Performance (GCSE)

Academic year 2025/26

GCSE Results

2023
2024
2025
2026
Attainment 8 GCSE Eng+Maths

2025/26 academic year

Progress 8 has declined from -0.26 to -0.37 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has declined from 44.1 to 44.0 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has remained stable at around 44% (2023 to 2026).

Performance by Group

GroupProgress 8Attainment 8Eng+Maths 5+
All pupils-44.044.2%
Disadvantaged(50)-33.626%
Not known to be disadvantaged(106)-49.052.8%
Boys(77)-40.739%
Girls(79)-47.349.4%
Show more breakdowns (2)
Known or believed to be other than English(41)-51.261%
Non mobile(151)-44.244.4%

2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data

GCSE Subjects Offered

Mathematics312
English Language312
English Literature300
Biology294
Chemistry292
Physics286
Geography172
History116
Design and Technology112
Food Preparation and Nutrition90
Computer Science56
Art and Design54
Physical Education46
Social Studies44
Spanish44
Other Modern Languages42
Business Studies36
Drama34
French26
Sports Studies24

+ 2 more subjects

2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils

After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations

After GCSEs (Year 11) - 194 students

Continued education91%
Further education33%
Apprenticeships2%
Employment1%
Not in education/employment3%

2023/24 data

Exclusions & Suspensions

3

Permanent exclusions

0.27%

Exclusion rate

103

Suspensions

9.23%

Suspension rate

67 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,116 pupils

2024/25 academic year

How Does This School Compare?

Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools

See peer comparison with Pro - £9 a month, or £90 a year, inc. VAT

Keep up with Heathcote School & Science College

Getting There

Train Stations

Chingford Rail Station
771m · 13 min walk
Chingford Station (Entrance)
813m · 13 min walk

Bus Stops

Kimberley Road (E4) (Stop GC)
136m · 2 min walk
Friday Hill (Stop GB)
262m · 4 min walk
Whitehall Road (Stop GV)
308m · 5 min walk
Valance Avenue (Stop GE)
349m · 6 min walk
Simmons Lane (Stop HL)
382m · 6 min walk

Free school transport

Check free transport to Heathcote School & Science College from your postcode →

You apply to the council where you live. Heathcote School & Science College is in Waltham Forest; for families living there:

Apply to Waltham Forest for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.

Safety and surroundings

Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)

Collisions
20
Fatal
0
Serious
1
Children hurt
5

Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 19 slight.

5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.

6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.

The typical figure for schools in Waltham Forest is 66 (the median across 87 schools, same distance and years).

Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.

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Commute and house prices

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Your chances of a place at Heathcote School & Science College

Will you get a place at Heathcote School & Science College? Get the admissions report

Your home postcode, set against Heathcote School & Science College's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.

What the report includes for Heathcote School & Science College:

  • The straight-line distance from your home to Heathcote School & Science College.
  • We hold no last distance offered figures from Waltham Forest, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
  • Applications, first choices and offers at Heathcote School & Science College for 2014 to 2026 entry.
  • How many families in Waltham Forest got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
  • The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
  • Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.

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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

76%

Available places

1,105 pupils

1,450 places

345 spare places in 2025

2025, DfE school capacity data

Area Demand Pressure - London

Medium pressure
New homes approved:114,409
Projected new pupils:20,594

Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London

Across Waltham Forest council

Low demand council-wide0.88 applications per place

Places available

3,090

Applications

2,724

Got 1st preference

79.5%

Got preferred school

96.3%

All secondary applications across Waltham Forest council (2026/27), not just this school.

This school: Oversubscribed

Inspection History(8)

28 February 2024

Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good.

26 September 2018
Leadership & ManagementGood
9 January 2018

SEND & SEN Provision

SEN Overview

126

SEN Support

61

EHC Plans

16.8%

of Total Pupils

2026 academic year

Provision & Specialist Facilities

Heathcote School & Science College has a resourced provision for hearing impairment.

Source: GIAS, Department for Education.

Resourced Provision

Pupils by Need Type

Speech, Language & Communication40
Social, Emotional & Mental Health37
Autistic Spectrum Disorder30
Specific Learning Difficulty23
Moderate Learning Difficulty21
Hearing Impairment19
Other5
Physical Disability3
Visual Impairment2
Profound & Multiple LD1
EHC Plan
SEN Support

Pupil Demographics

Ethnicity

White British
35.2%
Asian
9.9%
Black
11.9%
Mixed
13.9%
Chinese
1.4%
Other
4.7%
Unclassified
0.8%

2026 academic year

Key Indicators

Free School Meals25.8%
English as Additional Language32.1%

1,115

Total Pupils

572

Boys

543

Girls

2026 academic year

Workforce

81

Teachers

13.8:1

Pupil-teacher ratio

£59,513

Mean salary

2026 data

School Funding

£8,688

Per pupil

£8243k

Total funding

£285k

Pupil premium

Deprivation£839,788
EAL funding£48,436
Lump sum£157,194

2025-26 financial year allocations

Pupil Absence
2024/25

7.7%

Overall absence

23.7%

Persistent absence

923

Enrolments

Authorised3.6%
Unauthorised4.1%
Persistent (10%+)23.7%
Severe (50%+)3.3%

Absence trend

6.6%
18/19
4.5%
20/21
9.2%
21/22
8.8%
22/23
7.6%
23/24
7.7%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

Questions parents ask about Heathcote School & Science College

What are GCSE results like at Heathcote School & Science College?

In the 2026 results, pupils at Heathcote School & Science College achieved an Attainment 8 score of 44. 44% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.

What is Heathcote School & Science College's Ofsted rating?

Heathcote School & Science College's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2018, it was rated Good.

What is the catchment area for Heathcote School & Science College?

No fixed boundary. When Heathcote School & Science College is oversubscribed, Waltham Forest allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.

Is it hard to get a place at Heathcote School & Science College?

Heathcote School & Science College was not full in 2025: it ran at 76% of its 1450 places.

How big are the classes at Heathcote School & Science College?

Classes at Heathcote School & Science College average 20.3 pupils (2025/26).

How many pupils go to Heathcote School & Science College?

Heathcote School & Science College has around 1115 pupils on roll. 26% are eligible for free school meals.

Does Heathcote School & Science College have specialist SEN provision?

Heathcote School & Science College has a resourced provision for hearing impairment.

What is attendance like at Heathcote School & Science College?

7.7% of sessions were missed at Heathcote School & Science College in 2024/25. 23.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).

How do I apply to Heathcote School & Science College?

Apply through Waltham Forest's coordinated admissions process, naming Heathcote School & Science College on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.

How many road collisions happen near Heathcote School & Science College?

Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 19 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Waltham Forest is 66 (the median across 87 schools, same distance and years).

Where is Heathcote School & Science College?

Heathcote School & Science College is at Normanton Park, Chingford, London, E4 6ES.

Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)

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