Academy sponsor led · Brent

Harris Lowe Academy Willesden

11–18Ages
1,149Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
134226URN

Doyle Gardens, Willesden, London, NW10 3ST · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.8per place

0.7 below Brent median (2.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Brent

285 applications for 158 places · 12th of 16 in Brent

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

43.3of 90

Brent 48.7 England 46.0

11th of 15 in Brent

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 12 November 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
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

0.7 below Brent median (2.5) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

285 applications · 158 places offered · 79 named it first

2026 1.8; Brent median median 2.5
2025 2.0; Brent median median 2.5
2024 1.9; Brent median median 2.8
2023 1.9; Brent median median 2.5
2022 1.7; Brent median median 2.1
2021 2.3; Brent median median 2.3
2020 1.9; Brent median median 2.4
2019 1.7; Brent median median 2.5
2018 2.0; Brent median median 2.6
2017 2.2; Brent median median 2.9
2016 2.2; Brent median median 3.0
2015 2.5; Brent median median 2.5
2014 2.6; Brent median median 2.6

More applications per place than the Brent median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Brent 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	158	285	1.8	79	0.50
Sep 2025	178	354	2.0	129	0.72
Sep 2024	168	316	1.9	107	0.64
Sep 2023	177	342	1.9	108	0.61
Sep 2022	195	330	1.7	105	0.54
Sep 2021	178	400	2.3	148	0.83
Sep 2020	205	385	1.9	125	0.61
Sep 2019	225	380	1.7	117	0.52
Sep 2018	198	403	2.0	107	0.54
Sep 2017	196	432	2.2	128	0.65
Sep 2016	179	399	2.2	127	0.71
Sep 2015	167	410	2.5	103	0.62
Sep 2014	167	436	2.6	117	0.70

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

174 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)43.311th of 15 in Brent

Brent 48.7 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths37%12th of 15 in Brent

Brent 49% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths57%

Brent 67% England 66%

This school
Brent median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.23

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	174	43.3	37%	57%	–
2024/25	173	41.6	40%	57%	–
2023/24	168	46.9	45%	63%	+0.23
2022/23	169	41.1	34%	50%	+0.15

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

Harris Lowe Academy WillesdenThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.8applications per place 43.3Attainment 8
Newman Catholic College
0.3 km · Brent

Remains Good2022

1.4applications per place 36.0Attainment 8
Saint Claudine's Catholic School for Girls
0.8 km · Brent

Remains Good2022

1.6applications per place 42.6Attainment 8
Queens Park Community School
1.1 km · Brent

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.7applications per place 47.4Attainment 8
North Brent School
1.7 km · Brent

Good2024

2.7applications per place 51.8Attainment 8
Ark Burlington Danes Academy
2.3 km · Hammersmith and Fulham

Good2022

3.6applications per place 43.6Attainment 8
All Saints Catholic College
2.5 km · Kensington and Chelsea

2026

4.5applications per place 49.9Attainment 8
Menorah High School for Girls
2.6 km · Barnet

Improved significantly2024

1.7applications per place 62.5Attainment 8
Hampstead School
2.7 km · Camden

Good2023

2.5applications per place 38.4Attainment 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: 134226 · 304/6905
Trust: Harris Federation
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,200 pupils · 1,149 on roll
Free school meals: 52.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2003
Replaced: Willesden High School (URN 101551)
Address: Doyle Gardens, Willesden, London, NW10 3ST
Local authority: Brent

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