Highbury Fields School, London

From the headteacher's welcome: "United by a firm commitment to the values of mutual respect and tolerance, our school is a culturally rich community that reflects and celebrates the social diversity of London."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include dance, drama, Duke of Edinburgh and homework club.

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 26 November 2026 at 5pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Highbury Fields School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 56.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.3 in Islington and 47 across England.

65% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 52% in Islington and 47% in England.

That is down from 57.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.43: 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 50.3, against 62.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.5 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 98 families put Highbury Fields School as their first choice and 442 named it as one of their preferences, for 136 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 22 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Highbury Fields School are City of London Academy Highbury Grove (0.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44); St Mary Magdalene Academy (0.5 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 58.4); Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form (0.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52.2); and City of London Academy Islington (1.2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 46.1).

Highbury Fields School's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Of the 127 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 43 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 67% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 12% into work. 24% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

50.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 47.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (27%), White British (18%) and Mixed (15%).

In 2026, 131 pupils (17.9%) received SEN support and 15 (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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

Highbury Fields School had 59 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Drayton Park, about 250 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Highbury Barn (->s), 190 metres away.

In 2024/25, Highbury Fields School issued 18 suspensions, 2.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Highbury Fields School are Drayton Park Primary School (0.2 miles), St Joan of Arc RC Primary School (0.3 miles), St John's Highbury Vale CofE Primary School (0.4 miles) and Gillespie Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.