Academy sponsor led · Hackney

The Excelsior Academy

11–18Ages
983Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
131062URN

Shacklewell Lane, Hackney, London, E8 2EY · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Feb 2024 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.8per place

1.2 below Hackney median (3.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hackney

250 applications for 139 places · 13th of 14 in Hackney

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

46.6of 90

Hackney 50.9 England 46.0

12th of 15 in Hackney

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 6 February 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.8applications per place, Year 7

1.2 below Hackney median (3.0) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

250 applications · 139 places offered · 77 named it first

2026 1.8; Hackney median median 3.0
2025 2.1; Hackney median median 2.9
2024 2.7; Hackney median median 3.2
2023 2.6; Hackney median median 2.6
2022 2.9; Hackney median median 3.2
2021 3.3; Hackney median median 3.6
2020 4.4; Hackney median median 4.0
2019 4.0; Hackney median median 3.9
2018 4.5; Hackney median median 3.4
2017 4.8; Hackney median median 4.1
2016 4.2; Hackney median median 4.0
2015 4.6; Hackney median median 3.8
2014 4.1; Hackney median median 3.7

This school
Hackney median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	139	250	1.8	77	0.55
Sep 2025	146	310	2.1	70	0.48
Sep 2024	148	397	2.7	63	0.43
Sep 2023	164	422	2.6	62	0.38
Sep 2022	189	541	2.9	82	0.43
Sep 2021	172	569	3.3	95	0.55
Sep 2020	175	763	4.4	111	0.63
Sep 2019	186	744	4.0	96	0.52
Sep 2018	186	831	4.5	113	0.61
Sep 2017	191	914	4.8	125	0.65
Sep 2016	215	906	4.2	132	0.61
Sep 2015	177	810	4.6	111	0.63
Sep 2014	190	770	4.1	99	0.52

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

163 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)46.612th of 15 in Hackney

Hackney 50.9 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths48%13th of 15 in Hackney

Hackney 54% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths66%

Hackney 74% England 66%

This school
Hackney median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.46

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	163	46.6	48%	66%	–
2024/25	177	44.7	40%	61%	–
2023/24	176	49.5	48%	68%	+0.46
2022/23	173	48.4	51%	68%	+0.05

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

The Excelsior AcademyThis school
This school

Good2024

1.8applications per place 46.6Attainment 8
Mossbourne Community Academy
0.7 km · Hackney

2026

5.3applications per place 67.2Attainment 8
Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form
1.1 km · Hackney

Remains Good2022

3.1applications per place 52.2Attainment 8
Clapton Girls' Academy
1.4 km · Hackney

Outstanding2024

3.3applications per place 60.7Attainment 8
The Urswick School - A Church of England Secondary School
1.5 km · Hackney

Good2023

3.0applications per place 41.7Attainment 8
Waterside Academy
1.5 km · Hackney

2026

2.6applications per place 45.5Attainment 8
The City Academy, Hackney
1.6 km · Hackney

Good2023

4.5applications per place 53.2Attainment 8
Cardinal Pole Catholic School
1.8 km · Hackney

Remains Good2022

2.0applications per place 46.1Attainment 8
The Bridge Academy
1.8 km · Hackney

Remains Good2023

3.7applications per place 51.6Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 131062 · 204/6906
Trust: Community Schools Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,080 pupils · 983 on roll
Free school meals: 64.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Opened: 1 September 2006
Address: Shacklewell Lane, Hackney, London, E8 2EY
Local authority: Hackney

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources