Secondary school

Waterside Academy

  • Free School
  • ages 11–16
  • Mixed
  • Unknown
  • Hackney
  • E8 4DL
  • Not applicable

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 1,830 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 56%

Top % in England, by year
2017/18: top 45%45%2018/19: top 74%2021/22: top 56%2022/23: top 50%2023/24: top 38%38% · 2023/242024/25: top 56%No exams

Against London

Attainment 844.6 · London 50.13/10 Below
Grade 5+ English and maths41% · London 51.8%3/10 Below−12.3 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score4.1 · London 4.63/10 Below−7.6 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24+1.04 · London +0.3210/10 Top 10%+75.8 pts since 18/19
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2017/18: 46.7 · 89 pupils · London 492018/19: 41.7 · 88 pupils · London 49.52021/22: 47.2 · 76 pupils · London 52.82022/23: 46 · 90 pupils · London 50.552023/24: 48.2 · 93 pupils · London 50.62024/25: 44.6 · 78 pupils · London 50.1548.241.7No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2017/18: 40% · 89 pupils · London 48%2018/19: 36% · 88 pupils · London 48%2021/22: 53% · 76 pupils · London 58%2022/23: 44% · 90 pupils · London 53.5%2023/24: 60.2% · 93 pupils · London 55.5%2024/25: 41% · 78 pupils · London 51.8%60.2%36%No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
18 of 18 who put it first2014 · 97.6%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st1818
2nd225
3rd274
Last distance offered
  • 2026/2715.7 km
  • 2025/267.0 km
  • 2023/244.0 km

Inspections · 2015–2026

  • InclusionStrong
  • AchievementStrong
  • Curriculum and teachingStrong
  • Attendance and behaviourStrong
  • Leadership and governanceStrong
  • Personal development and wellbeingStrong
  • SafeguardingMet
  1. 2015Goodas predecessor
  2. 2018Remains Goodas predecessor
  3. 2019Inadequateas predecessor
  4. 2019Ungraded visit
  5. 2022Good
  6. 2026Lowest Strong

1 point to improve

Read what Ofsted said (3)

From Ofsted report, inspected Jan 2026

Strengths

  • “Pupils at Waterside Academy value being part of a small community, where staff know them well.”
  • “Staff understand pupils' individual needs.”
  • “They help them settle quickly so that they feel they belong.”

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

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026351
Free school meals (past 6 years)64.4%
First language not English39.6%
SEN support6.2%
EHC plan5.9%
Absence (sessions missed)7.8%
Persistently absent pupils25.8%

Girls 49.5%Boys 50.5%

70.2% full · 500 places

Parent View

As at 6 Apr 2026 · 19 responses (5.1% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school79% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school84.2% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved84.2% agree
  • Has your child been bullied at this school?21.1% yes
  • When the bullying took place the school dealt with it quickly and effectively · asked only of the 21.1% who said Yes above50% agree
  • Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities?57.9% yes
  • The school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 57.9% who said Yes above54.5% agree
  • The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know73.7% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 10.5% had no concerns to raise64.7% agree
  • When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart73.7% agree
  • The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well84.2% agree
  • Would you recommend this school to another parent?79% yes
  • Your overall view of the school73.7% positive

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher10.6
Pupils per adult8.7
  • Classroom teachers 28
  • Leadership 5
  • Teaching assistants 3.3
  • Other support 15.8

Teachers 33 FTE · Whole workforce 52.2 · 54 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£12,683
Spend per pupil£11,728
Staff spend per pupil£9,347
Reserve per pupil£3
  • +£1,000revenue reserve
  • +£361,000in-year balance

Grants £12,638 · self-generated £45 · premises £442 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TRUST (6 academies) · trust reserve £5,747,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

93 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained84.9%
  • Education82.8%
  • Apprenticeship0%
  • Employment2.2%
  • Not sustained7.5%
  • Unknown7.5%