Secondary school

Wapping High School

  • Free School
  • ages 11–16
  • Mixed
  • Tower Hamlets
  • E1 2DA
  • No sixth form

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 1,401 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 43%

Top % in England, by year
2016/17: top 47%47%2017/18: top 65%2018/19: top 42%42% · 2018/192021/22: top 63%2022/23: top 76%2023/24: top 44%2024/25: top 43%No exams

Against London

Attainment 846.9 · London 50.14/10 Below+16.6 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths44.6% · London 51.8%4/10 Below
EBacc point score4.33 · London 4.565/10 Middle+21.7 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.04 · London +0.323/10 Below+12 pts since 18/19
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2016/17: 46.6 · 37 pupils · London 49.32017/18: 43.3 · 72 pupils · London 492018/19: 47.8 · 40 pupils · London 49.52021/22: 45.8 · 71 pupils · London 52.82022/23: 40.9 · 68 pupils · London 50.552023/24: 46.9 · 81 pupils · London 50.62024/25: 46.9 · 65 pupils · London 50.1547.840.9No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 65% · 37 pupils · London 48%2017/18: 26% · 72 pupils · London 48%2018/19: 50% · 40 pupils · London 48%2021/22: 49% · 71 pupils · London 58%2022/23: 34% · 68 pupils · London 53.5%2023/24: 55.6% · 81 pupils · London 55.5%2024/25: 44.6% · 65 pupils · London 51.8%65%26%No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in0.0%
0 of 13 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 0.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st130
2nd20
3rd20

No last distance offered published

Inspections · 2014–2023

  1. 2014Requires improvement
  2. 2016Requires improvement
  3. 2017Ungraded visit
  4. 2018Good
  5. 2023Good

4 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

4 areas graded · safeguarding effective · 1 point to improve

Read what Ofsted said (6)

From Ofsted report, inspected Nov 2023

Strengths

  • “This is a safe, happy and ambitious school.”
  • “Wapping High School was founded with the intention that pupils would benefit from being in a small school.”
  • “This vision has been realised and maintained.”

To improve

  • “Sometimes in key stage 3 subjects, teachers do not select the most appropriate task to help pupils to learn the intended subject content.”
  • “This leads to some gaps in pupils’ understanding and some misconceptions.”
  • “Leaders should ensure that teachers choose tasks that are most appropriate for the needs of their pupils so that pupils learn more of the intended curriculum.”

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

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026248
Free school meals (past 6 years)43.2%
First language not English55.8%
SEN support12.6%
EHC plan4.8%
Absence (sessions missed)9.8%
Persistently absent pupils34.5%

Girls 38.1%Boys 61.9%

59% full · 420 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 18 responses (5.4% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school50% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school61.1% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved50% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 22.2% not applicable21.4% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year44.4% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly55.5% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed0% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child50% agree
  • My child does well at this school50% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing55.5% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school61.1% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school66.7% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development50% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent55.6% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher9.4
Pupils per adult7.0
  • Classroom teachers 21.6
  • Leadership 4.8
  • Teaching assistants 6
  • Other support 7

Teachers 26.4 FTE · Whole workforce 39.4 · 42 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£15,731
Spend per pupil£15,514
Staff spend per pupil£10,344
Reserve per pupil−£480
  • −£141,000revenue reserve
  • +£64,000in-year balance

Grants £15,612 · self-generated £119 · premises £486 per pupil

Single-academy trust: THE WAPPING AND SHADWELL SECONDARY EDUCATION TRUST

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

81 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained86.4%
  • Education85.2%
  • Apprenticeship1.2%
  • Employment0%
  • Not sustained8.6%
  • Unknown4.9%