The Elms Academy

Lambeth Academy has shown significant improvement since its last inspection, now rated as good overall. The executive principal has spearheaded changes that have enhanced the educational environment, emphasizing high expectations and a focus on academic success. Pupils exhibit positive behavior, are engaged in their learning, and feel safe and supported by staff. With good results in public examinations and a broad extracurricular program, the school is well-regarded by its community. However, there are key areas identified for further growth, particularly in the development of writing skills and opportunities for pupil leadership.

Strengths

• High expectations set by leaders and positive pupil behavior.
• Strong upward trend in public examination results.
• Well-designed subject plans that cater to diverse pupil needs.
• Effective support systems for special educational needs and disadvantaged pupils.
• Wide range of extracurricular opportunities available for pupils.
• Strong careers program starting from Year 7.

Areas for Improvement

• Writing skills not developing effectively across subjects.
• Limited opportunities for pupils to manage their own behavior.
• Average attainment in A-level examinations impacting university access.
• Inconsistent delivery of careers advice across year groups.

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 The Elms Academy attended 93.3% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 18.0% 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, 6.3% of pupils at The Elms Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 3 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 The Elms Academy had 13.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 23.8% 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, 16.5% of pupils at The Elms Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 4.4% 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 2024–25 The Elms Academy received £10,599 and spent £10,554 for each of its 844 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £754,000 (£894 per pupil).

Across all 93 schools of United Learning Trust, income was £8,687 and spending £8,616 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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

The Elms Academy is part of United Learning Trust, which runs 98 schools. The nearest others:

• Ernest Bevin Academy London
• Langford Primary School London
• The Hurlingham Academy London
• Sulivan Primary School London
• Fulham Primary School London
• Queen's Manor School London
• Holland Park School London
• Marylebone Academy London
• Paddington Academy London
• Bacon's College London

What is The Elms Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Elms Academy is Good, from an inspection in June 2025.

When was The Elms Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

The Elms Academy was last inspected in June 2025.

How many pupils does The Elms Academy have?

The Elms Academy has 865 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Elms Academy cover?

The Elms Academy for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are The Elms Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 52.7, and 55% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Elms Academy?

The Elms Academy is at Elms Road, Clapham, London, SW4 9ET.