Secondary school

Highlands School

  • Community School
  • ages 11–18
  • Mixed
  • Enfield
  • N21 1QQ
  • Sixth form

Homes near this school

Finding homes near…

The area around it

Results · 2024/25

Ranked 437 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 14%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 23%23%2016/17: top 23%2017/18: top 20%2018/19: top 20%2021/22: top 28%2022/23: top 17%2023/24: top 16%2024/25: top 14%No exams

A-level results

#179 of 438 London sixth forms, state and independent, 2024/25

Independent and selective (grammar) schools choose their pupils, so high results partly reflect who gets in, not only teaching. Some independent schools don't publish results.

Against London

Attainment 855.6 · London 50.18/10 Above+18.7 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths64.7% · London 51.8%8/10 Above+13.3 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score5.33 · London 4.568/10 Above+31.3 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.42 · London +0.326/10 Middle−5.5 pts since 18/19
A level points per entry36.88 · London 34.77/10 Above−12.5 pts since 21/22
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 54.4 · 238 pupils · London 522016/17: 51.3 · 236 pupils · London 49.32017/18: 52.6 · 233 pupils · London 492018/19: 53.1 · 233 pupils · London 49.52021/22: 53.2 · 241 pupils · London 52.82022/23: 54 · 231 pupils · London 50.552023/24: 54.8 · 237 pupils · London 50.62024/25: 55.6 · 235 pupils · London 50.1555.651.3No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 53% · 236 pupils · London 48%2017/18: 58% · 233 pupils · London 48%2018/19: 58% · 233 pupils · London 48%2021/22: 64% · 241 pupils · London 58%2022/23: 58% · 231 pupils · London 53.5%2023/24: 61.6% · 237 pupils · London 55.5%2024/25: 64.7% · 235 pupils · London 51.8%64.7%53%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 27.61 · 150 pupils · London 29.292016/17: 32.42 · 141 pupils · London 30.582017/18: 30.79 · 153 pupils · London 30.892018/19: 30.71 · 144 pupils · London 31.532021/22: 41.1 · 113 pupils · London 36.842022/23: 36.58 · 115 pupils · London 33.82023/24: 38.82 · 109 pupils · London 33.672024/25: 36.88 · 149 pupils · London 34.741.127.61No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in50.8%
226 of 445 who put it first2014 · 56.3%2026 · 50.8%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st445226
2nd42713
3rd3173
Last distance offered
  • 2024/251.3 km
  • 2023/241.4 km
  • 2022/231.5 km
  • 2021/221.6 km
  • 2020/211.4 km
  • 2019/201.2 km

Inspections · 2007–2024

  • Personal developmentOutstanding
  • Quality of educationOutstanding
  • Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
  • Sixth form provisionOutstanding
  • Leadership and managementOutstanding
  • SafeguardingEffective
  1. 2007Satisfactory
  2. 2011Outstanding
  3. 2014Outstanding
  4. 2024All areas Outstanding
Read what Ofsted said (3)

From Ofsted report, inspected Nov 2024

Strengths

  • “Pupils are exceptionally ‘proud to be part of Highlands’.”
  • “They thrive in this diverse and inclusive school, exemplifying the ‘DARE’ values of determination, aspiration, respect and equality.”
  • “Pupils develop positive relationships.”

Ofsted inspection report extracts, Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,694
Free school meals (past 6 years)17.7%
First language not English13.9%
SEN support10.5%
EHC plan4.2%
Absence (sessions missed)5.8%
Persistently absent pupils13.0%

Girls 49.8%Boys 50.2%

106.6% full · 1,589 places · 437 in sixth form

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 409 responses (24.8% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school90% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school93.6% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved91.7% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 68.2% not applicable50.8% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year82.2% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 27.6% not applicable75.7% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?16.9% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 16.9% who said Yes above56.5% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child87.5% agree
  • My child does well at this school86.1% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing85.3% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school95.6% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school93.6% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development77.3% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent90.2% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher19.8
Pupils per adult13.6
  • Classroom teachers 75.6
  • Leadership 10
  • Teaching assistants 21.8
  • Other support 44.3

Teachers 85.6 FTE · Whole workforce 151.7 · 172 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£8,087
Spend per pupil£8,109
Staff spend per pupil£6,079
Reserve per pupil£123
  • +£208,018revenue reserve
  • −£36,892in-year balance

Grants £7,840 · self-generated £247 · premises £743 per pupil

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

237 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained95.8%
  • Education94.5%
  • Apprenticeship0.4%
  • Employment0.8%
  • Not sustained2.1%
  • Unknown2.1%

After sixth form (16–18)

148 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained90.5%
  • Education73%
  • Higher education67.6%
  • Apprenticeship4.7%
  • Employment12.8%
  • Not sustained7.4%
  • Unknown2%