Ilford County High School

Ilford County High School is performing at a strong standard across all inspected areas, and safeguarding standards are met. Published academic outcomes are very high: pupils achieve grades well above national averages at GCSE and A level, make excellent progress from their starting points, and are well prepared for university or degree apprenticeships. Attendance is high, persistent absence is well below national averages, and pupils' behaviour is calm, orderly and purposeful. The curriculum is broad, ambitious and sometimes goes beyond the national curriculum. Teaching is strong, with expert subject leadership, rigorous checks on understanding, and effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Inclusion is a notable strength: disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND are well supported, attend regularly and achieve well. Personal development, careers education and post-16 provision are extensive, with a wide range of enrichment, societies, work experience and individualised support. Leadership and governance are effective. A new headteacher started in September 2025, and staff and pupils report that new leadership has already made a positive impact, particularly on workload, wellbeing and communication. Leaders have addressed a temporary dip in 2024 examination results, with 2025 top grades rising significantly above the national average. The school's next step is to sustain its effective use of assessment and continue enhancing teaching and learning; no significant weaknesses were identified.

Strengths

• Very high academic outcomes at GCSE and A level, well above national averages.
• Excellent pupil progress from their starting points across the school.
• High overall attendance and persistent absence well below national averages.
• Calm, orderly and purposeful behaviour throughout the school day.
• Broad and very ambitious curriculum that sometimes exceeds the national curriculum.
• Expert subject leadership and effective, evidence-based professional development.
• Swift and accurate identification of SEND, with comprehensive support.
• Disadvantaged pupils are well supported to overcome barriers to learning.
• Excellent personal development programme covering British values, safety, relationships and equality.
• Outstanding careers education from Year 7, including tailored post-16 guidance.
• Comprehensive and ambitious post-16 provision with strong subject teaching.
• Many enrichment opportunities, student-led societies and work experience placements.
• Effective leadership and governance with clear strategic oversight.
• Positive staff culture with a focus on reducing workload and supporting wellbeing.
• Open and effective safeguarding culture; pupils feel safe and respected.
• Pupils with SEND achieve well and attend school regularly.
• New leadership reversed the temporary 2024 decline in examination results.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Ilford County High School attended 94.5% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 13.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 5.1% of pupils at Ilford County High School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Ilford County High School had 20.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 13.7% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 5.5% of pupils at Ilford County High School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 0.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Ilford County High School received £7,677 and spent £7,757 for each of its 1,115 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,319,000 (£1,183 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Redbridge · Redbridge local authority: places and applications

What is Ilford County High School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ilford County High School is Strong standard, from an inspection in February 2026.

When was Ilford County High School last inspected by Ofsted?

Ilford County High School was last inspected in February 2026.

How many pupils does Ilford County High School have?

Ilford County High School has 1,115 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ilford County High School cover?

Ilford County High School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Ilford County High School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 77.0, and 99% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Ilford County High School?

Ilford County High School is at Fremantle Road, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex, IG6 2JB.