Lister Community School, London

In its own words: "At Lister Community School in Newham, student leadership plays a central role in shaping a positive and inclusive school community. Our student leadership structure provides a variety of opportunities for pupils to develop responsibility, teamwork, and communication skills."

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Lister Community School our school motto is Always Aiming for Excellence . As a thriving co-educational secondary school in Newham, East London, we are committed to providing every student with an outstanding education that prepares them for top sixth forms, universities, and successful futures."

In 2026, pupils at Lister Community School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 48.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.6 in Newham and 47 across England.

45% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 54% in Newham and 47% in England.

That is up from 44.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.31: 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 47.4, against 49.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 1.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Spanish.

For September 2026 entry, 144 families put Lister Community School as their first choice and 598 named it as one of their preferences, for 198 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 Lister Community School are St Bonaventure's RC School (0.5 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 53.5); Stratford School Academy (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51); St Angela's Ursuline School (0.7 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 55.2); and Cumberland Community School (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.3).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Lister Community School.

Lister Community School is one of 6 schools run by Newham Community Learning, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50 in 2024/25.

40 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Lister Community School (as of September 2025): 68% would recommend the school, 78% say their child is happy there and 25% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (80%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (25%).

Of the 356 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 30% to a further education college, 0% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

59% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 65.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (55%), Black (17%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 147 pupils (10%) received SEN support and 70 (4.8%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Lister Community School has a resourced provision for hearing impairment: 18 places, 18 pupils on roll.

The nearest Underground station is Upton Park Underground Station, about 570 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Terrace Road West Ham, 340 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Lister Community School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Lister Community School issued 85 suspensions, 5.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Lister Community School are Plaistow Primary School (under 0.1 miles), Southern Road Primary School (0.2 miles), Upton Cross Primary School (0.2 miles) and Selwyn Primary School (0.3 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.