Highgate Wood Secondary School, London
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Highgate Wood excels at creating an inclusive environment where every pupil feels they belong. The school combines strong academic outcomes - particularly in GCSE English and maths - with exceptional pastoral care, including counselling services through the Maya Angelou centre. Staff consistently apply behaviour expectations fairly, and the school provides tailored support to help all pupils attend regularly and succeed.
Key Strengths
- Attendance rates well above national average, with strong support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
- Behaviour significantly improved through 'The Highgate Wood Way' approach, creating a safe and respectful school environment
- GCSE results significantly higher than national average in English and mathematics
- Comprehensive inclusion strategy with effective pastoral and academic support
- Wide range of enrichment activities with 25 clubs available to pupils
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent expectations for verbal responses and explanations between subjects limits deeper learning
- Monitoring of teaching effectiveness does not routinely focus on how well key groups including SEND and disadvantaged pupils learn
- Some variability in how effectively teachers check disadvantaged pupils' understanding of curriculum
- Academic progression for pupils with SEND could be more consistent
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met. Leaders have created an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Maya Angelou breakfast club, Manga book club, newspaper club, outdoor learning, culture day celebrations, masculinity workshops, work-experience placements, charitable projects, cooking and university preparation courses
Highgate Wood Secondary School is a well-led secondary school with a strong ethos of inclusion where 'everyone matters, everyone achieves'. The school has embedded effective approaches to attendance, behaviour and pastoral support, resulting in above-average attendance rates and significantly improved conduct among pupils.
At a Glance
22.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
23.1
Avg class size
60
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
104%
Over capacity
1,524 pupils
1,465 capacity
59 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for London
Admissions Demand - Haringey
Places available
2,595
Applications
2,242
Got 1st preference
78.7%
Got preferred school
96.9%
Secondary admissions across Haringey (2025/26)
Inspection History(9)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.15929%
Overall absence
12.44131%
Persistent absence
1,278
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Highgate Wood Secondary School
Coleridge Primary School
Rokesly Junior School
Rokesly Infant & Nursery School
Whitehall Park School
Ashmount Primary School
Muswell Hill Primary School
St James Church of England Primary School
Campsbourne Junior School
Campsbourne Infant School
St Mary's CofE Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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