Paddington Academy, London
Paddington Academy is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in London, part of United Learning Trust. It has a Christian religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2023. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 54th-highest of the 266 schools in London with published results, and 340th of 3,298 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.7 first-choice applications for every place. It was 97% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2023)
- Demand
- 1.7 first choices per place
- Attendance
- Better than England average
- Progress (2024)
- Well above average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Westminster (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Paddington Academy in detail
Paddington Academy in its own words
Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Westminster
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at Paddington Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 57.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 52.8 in Westminster and 47 across England.
68% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 59% in Westminster and 47% in England.
That is down from 61.6 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.85: pupils made well 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 55.4, against 60.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 4.9 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Business Studies.
Getting a place at Paddington Academy
For September 2026 entry, 296 families put Paddington Academy as their first choice and 720 named it as one of their preferences, for 174 places offered. That is 1.7 first choices for every place. 136 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Paddington Academy are Westminster Academy (0.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46); St George's Catholic School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 54.5); St Augustine's Federated Schools: CE High School (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.7); and Marylebone Academy (0.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45).
Paddington Academy's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Westminster AcademySt George's Catholic SchoolSt Augustine's Federated Schools: CE High SchoolMarylebone Academy
The trust
Paddington Academy is one of 98 schools run by United Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49 in 2024/25.
Where pupils go next
Of the 183 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 12% to a further education college and 1% into work.
Of the 162 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 75% went on to university or other higher education, 1% to apprenticeships and 6% into work. 29% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
50.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 79.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are other ethnic groups (48%), Black (20%) and Asian (17%).
In 2026, 114 pupils (9.1%) received SEN support and 42 (3.3%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Warwick Avenue, about 600 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Elgin Avenue, 100 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Paddington Academy issued 61 suspensions, 4.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to Paddington Academy are Ark Atwood Primary Academy (0.2 miles), St Mary Magdalene & St Stephen's CofE Primary School (0.2 miles), Essendine Primary School (0.2 miles) and St Peter's CofE School (0.2 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Ark Atwood Primary AcademySt Mary Magdalene & St Stephen's CofE Primary SchoolEssendine Primary SchoolSt Peter's CofE School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its March 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Sixth form.
About
Paddington Academy is a non-selective co-educational secondary school and academy located in Maida Vale in the borough of Westminster and the ceremonial county of London, England. Established in September 2006, it is run by United Learning, formerly known as United Church Schools Trust.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
50.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has remained stable at around 0.85 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 57.3 to 57.8 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has remained stable at around 68% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 57.8 | 68.4% |
| Disadvantaged(98) | - | 55.4 | 64.3% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(92) | - | 60.3 | 72.8% |
| Boys(98) | - | 54.9 | 65.3% |
| Girls(92) | - | 60.9 | 71.7% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(163) | - | 57.9 | 68.1% |
| Non mobile(185) | - | 57.7 | 68.1% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 183 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
0
Permanent exclusions
0.00%
Exclusion rate
61
Suspensions
4.85%
Suspension rate
53 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,259 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with Paddington Academy
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Ferry Terminals
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Paddington Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Paddington Academy is in Westminster; for families living there:
Apply to Westminster for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 174
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 32
- Children hurt
- 10
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 174 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 32 serious and 141 slight.
10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
31 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 Westminster is 185 (the median across 93 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.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Paddington Academy
Will you get a place at Paddington Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Paddington Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Paddington Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Paddington Academy.
- Westminster publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Paddington Academy that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Paddington Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Westminster 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
97%
Near capacity
1,258 pupils
1,299 places
41 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Westminster council
Places available
1,754
Applications
901
Got 1st preference
65.8%
Got preferred school
92.7%
All secondary applications across Westminster council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: 1.7 first choices per place
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
114
SEN Support
42
EHC Plans
12.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1,256
Total Pupils
649
Boys
607
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
77
Teachers
16.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£64,249
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£9,432
Per pupil
£9615k
Total funding
£512k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.7%
Overall absence
9.1%
Persistent absence
971
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Paddington Academy
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Paddington Academy
What are GCSE results like at Paddington Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Paddington Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 57.8. 68% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Paddington Academy's Ofsted rating?
Paddington Academy was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2023.
What is the catchment area for Paddington Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Paddington Academy is oversubscribed, Westminster allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Paddington Academy?
Paddington Academy was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Paddington Academy?
Classes at Paddington Academy average 21.1 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Paddington Academy?
Paddington Academy has around 1256 pupils on roll. 51% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Paddington Academy?
4.7% of sessions were missed at Paddington Academy in 2024/25. 9.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Paddington Academy?
Apply through Westminster's coordinated admissions process, naming Paddington Academy 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 Paddington Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 174 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 32 serious and 141 slight. 10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 31 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 Westminster is 185 (the median across 93 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Paddington Academy?
Paddington Academy is at 50 Marylands Road, London, W9 2DR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)