Royal Docks Academy, London

Ofsted's report card from its 27 January 2026 inspection grades Royal Docks Academy on 6 areas: 4 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils generally achieve well from their different starting points."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance has improved markedly over the past year."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff are proud of the school's inclusive culture."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "There has been a significant change in the leadership of the school since the last inspection."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "There are inconsistencies in how well staff check pupils' understanding."

Personal development and wellbeing - Needs attention. "Leaders have not set out a clear vision for pupils' wider development."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to strengthen their work to improve effective teaching methods so that staff are applying these methods consistently across subjects and phases"; "Leaders should ensure that staff identify those pupils who are quietly disengaged in lessons so they can provide the support these pupils need to engage fully and acquire the knowledge they need to achieve"; "Leaders should develop and communicate a clear set of aims for their personal development programme so that pupils know what they are working towards and staff can assess their progress towards those aims"; "Leaders should ensure that staff have a clear understanding of pupils' individual learning goals so that adaptations are more closely aligned with the goals pupils are working towards"; "Those responsible for governance should ensure they have fully up-to-date knowledge of the statutory requirements with regards to the 'Prevent' duty in order to strengthen their oversight of the school's work in this area".

In its own words: "We invite you to join with us in creating something very special. We are building a fully inclusive environment that celebrates achievement, aspiration and a life-long passion for learning for all members of our community."

From the headteacher's welcome: "A very warm welcome to Royal Docks academy. I am Stephanie Shaldas and as Headteacher, I am immensely proud to lead a vibrant, diverse, and genuinely inclusive secondary school in heart of Custom House, London."

In 2026, pupils at Royal Docks Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.6 in Newham and 47 across England.

36% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 54% in Newham and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 39.6.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.41: 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 35.8, against 47.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 19 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 70 families put Royal Docks Academy as their first choice and 362 named it as one of their preferences, for 96 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 Royal Docks Academy are Oasis Academy Silvertown (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.6); Cumberland Community School (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.3); Brampton Manor Academy (0.9 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 61.2); and Kingsford Community School (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51.9).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Royal Docks Academy.

Royal Docks Academy is one of 12 schools run by Bmat Education, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.7 in 2024/25.

39 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Royal Docks Academy (as of April 2026): 46% would recommend the school, 49% say their child is happy there and 47% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (56%); the weakest, that they are kept well informed about progress (39%).

Of the 168 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 41% to a further education college and 1% to an apprenticeship.

63.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 60.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (21%), Asian (20%) and White British (18%).

In 2026, 90 pupils (10.6%) received SEN support and 81 (9.5%) 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 autism.

Royal Docks Academy has a resourced provision for profound and multiple learning difficulties: 25 places, 24 pupils on roll.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Prince Regent, about 150 metres away (roughly a 2-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Victoria Dock Road, 90 metres away.

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

In August 2026, police recorded 702 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Newham (1080).

In 2024/25, Royal Docks Academy issued 252 suspensions, 27.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Royal Docks Academy are St Joachim's Catholic Primary School (0.2 miles), Scott Wilkie Primary School (0.3 miles), Rosetta Primary School (0.5 miles) and Ellen Wilkinson Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.