Swanlea School, London

Outstanding
Secondary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 1118

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~560m)Possible (~800m)Unlikely (~1.0km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Kabir Miah
Pupils:1,253 / 1,260 capacity
LA:Tower Hamlets
Phone:02073753267
Address:31 Brady Street, Whitechapel, London, E1 5DJ
Federation:Weavers Federation
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Outstanding

Overall

URN:100973
UKPRN:10017775
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Bethnal Green and Stepney
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Swanlea transforms students' achievement from below-average starting points to above-average results, with particularly strong progress in English. The school excels at supporting vulnerable learners including those eligible for pupil premium and students learning English as an additional language. Teachers use excellent questioning techniques and the school has created an outstanding culture where students behave impeccably and feel genuinely happy and secure.

Key Strengths

  • Outstanding teaching with particularly strong use of questioning and high-quality resources
  • Exceptional progress for disadvantaged students and those learning English as an additional language
  • Outstanding provision for literacy teaching across all subjects
  • Excellent student behaviour and very safe, welcoming school environment
  • Effective leadership at all levels with strong monitoring and support systems

Areas for Improvement

  • Give all students more time to respond to and act on teachers' written feedback in their books
  • Use additional adults more consistently and effectively across all lessons

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is effective; the school provides a very safe environment where students feel happy and secure, with strong systems in place for behaviour management and student support.

Extracurricular Activities

Breakfast club, homework support clubs, literacy clubs, subject-specific clubs, sporting activities, comprehensive music provision

This is an outstanding school where students make exceptional progress from well below-average starting points, achieving above-average attainment especially in English. The school is very well led with a strong inclusive vision that supports and challenges all pupils in a welcoming and safe environment.

At a Glance

42.1%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

24.2

Avg class size

53

Total classes

10 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Whitechapel Station (Entrance)
94m · 2 min walk
Whitechapel Rail Station
144m · 2 min walk
Bethnal Green Rail Station (Entrance)
352m · 6 min walk

Tube / Metro / Tram

Whitechapel Underground Station
137m · 2 min walk
Bethnal Green
782m · 13 min walk

Bus Stops

Whitechapel Station / Royal London Hospital (Stop B)
172m · 3 min walk
Cambridge Heath Road (Stop E)
212m · 3 min walk
Old Montague Street (Stop U)
267m · 4 min walk
Underwood Road (Stop T)
278m · 5 min walk
Darling Row (Stop R)
298m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

99%

Near capacity

1,253 pupils

1,260 capacity

7 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - London

Medium pressure
New homes approved:104,823
Projected new pupils:18,868

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for London

Admissions Demand - Tower Hamlets

Low demand0.92x oversubscription

Places available

3,203

Applications

2,958

Got 1st preference

74.8%

Got preferred school

94.2%

Secondary admissions across Tower Hamlets (2025/26)

Inspection History(108)

Date not published by Ofsted
Outstanding
Date not published by Ofsted
Outstanding
Date not published by Ofsted
Outstanding

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.

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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.

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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.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

3.98119%

Overall absence

8.63039%

Persistent absence

1,066

Enrolments

Authorised3.10288%
Unauthorised0.8783%
Persistent (10%+)8.63039%
Severe (50%+)0.28143%

Absence trend

3.29017%
18/19
2.26179%
20/21
3.10846%
21/22
3.61123%
22/23
4.29538%
23/24
3.98119%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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