Oaklands School, London

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Oaklands School on 7 areas: 6 strong standard and 1 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Over time pupils consistently achieve above national averages in national tests and examinations across most subjects."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have established highly effective systems and procedures to promote and support attendance."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Staff create a highly inclusive culture that gives every pupil a strong sense of belonging."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders have an acute understanding of pupils' contexts and the barriers they may face."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have designed an ambitious and highly effective personal development programme that goes well beyond statutory requirements."

Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "Leaders have an acute understanding of the strengths and areas for development in the post‑16 provision."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the strengths of the taught curriculum."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that learning tasks across all subjects are of a consistently high quality and promote pupils' deep understanding".

In 2026, pupils at Oaklands School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.4 in Tower Hamlets and 47 across England.

49% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Tower Hamlets and 47% in England.

That is down from 52.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.41: 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 45.6, against 52.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 67 families put Oaklands School as their first choice and 231 named it as one of their preferences, for 86 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 Oaklands School are City of London Academy, Shoreditch Park (0.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.9); Mulberry Academy Shoreditch (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.5); Haggerston School (0.5 miles, Attainment 8 53.4); and Swanlea School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 58.7).

Oaklands School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Of the 137 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 13% to a further education college and 1% to an apprenticeship.

Of the 83 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 55% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 17% into work. 23% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

59.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 50.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (77%) and Black (11%).

Oaklands School had 68 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Cambridge Heath (London) Rail Station, about 430 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wilmot Street, 270 metres away.

In 2024/25, Oaklands School issued 70 suspensions, 8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Oaklands School are Lawdale Junior School (under 0.1 miles), Elizabeth Selby Infants' School (under 0.1 miles), Hague Primary School (0.3 miles) and St John's Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.