Greatfields School Review 2026: A fast growing Barking secondary with an extended day culture

Greatfields is a mixed 11 to 18 secondary in Barking and Dagenham, opened in September 2016 and now operating at scale, with capacity for 1,824 pupils. Its identity is shaped by clear routines and a deliberate use of time: the formal school day runs from 8.40am to 3pm, then the extended day continues with enrichment from 3pm onwards.

Leadership is currently under Headteacher Richard Paul. The latest Ofsted inspection, carried out on 15 and 16 October 2024 and published on 06 December 2024, confirmed the school had taken effective action to maintain standards, and safeguarding arrangements were found to be effective.

A strong sense of order is part of the daily experience here. Expectations are codified in simple, practical rules, including punctuality, uniform standards, equipment readiness, and a no mobile phone approach. This is not about formality for its own sake; it is designed to protect learning time and reduce low level disruption, which matters in a large secondary that has expanded quickly.

There is also a clear effort to build belonging in a diverse local intake. Whole school moments such as Culture Day sit alongside routines that reward effort and hard work. The language pupils use about recognition, including assembly “shoutouts”, points to a culture where praise is structured rather than incidental.

The physical environment has been a major part of the school’s development. A new building completed in 2022 is described as bringing facilities such as a library, sports hall, and dance and drama studios. For families, this matters because growth can otherwise strain space, and Greatfields has been trying to match expansion with infrastructure.

For GCSE outcomes, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 44.3 and its Progress 8 score is +0.3, indicating pupils make above average progress from their starting points. EBacc performance, measured as the percentage achieving grade 5 or above in the EBacc, is 12.7%, with an EBacc average point score of 3.98.

Rankings are best read as context, not destiny. Ranked 2,258th in England and 7th in Barking and Dagenham for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), performance sits in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile). This is consistent with a school still establishing long run exam patterns after rapid growth.

At A level, the profile is more challenging. A* grades are recorded at 0%, A grades at 4.5%, B grades at 18.92%, and A* to B combined at 23.42%, compared with England averages of 23.6% for A* to A and 47.2% for A* to B. Ranked 2,392nd in England and 11th in Barking and Dagenham for A level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), results are below England average overall.

Parents comparing options locally should use the FindMySchool Local Hub pages and the Comparison Tool to benchmark GCSE and sixth form outcomes side by side, rather than relying on a single headline.

The curriculum is described as ambitious and well sequenced, designed so pupils revisit and embed key ideas over time. In practice, this is the difference between surface coverage and durable learning, particularly in subjects where later success depends on secure foundations.

Teacher expertise and training appear to be a deliberate lever. Staff training is described as regular and high quality, supporting strong subject knowledge and clear explanation. Pupils are also supported where gaps appear, including targeted help for reading, phonics, and comprehension.

One area for continued focus is consistency in assessment use. The latest inspection narrative highlights that checking for misconceptions is not always precise or consistent, which can leave some pupils, including those with SEND or who are disadvantaged, less secure before moving on. For families, the practical question at open events is how departments monitor understanding lesson by lesson, and how quickly support is deployed when pupils fall behind.

Greatfields places strong emphasis on preparation for next steps, framed as education, employment or training. Careers education is structured around a formal programme intended to build understanding of pathways and employability skills across year groups.

For highly academic applicants, there is also an Oxbridge Programme to support older students with applications to Oxford or Cambridge. The school does not publish destination statistics in the sources reviewed, and destination figures are not available in the supplied outcomes dataset for this school. The right approach for parents is to ask what success looks like in practice: which application support is offered, how references are structured, and how students are guided towards degrees, apprenticeships, or vocational routes that match their profile.

At post 16, the current sixth form curriculum list includes A levels such as English Literature, Maths, Economics, Biology, Chemistry, History, Business, Sociology, Psychology, and Computing, alongside vocational pathways including Business, Sport Science, and Health and Social Care. This mix suggests a sixth form aiming to serve both academic and applied learners, which is often a good fit in a community focused school, provided guidance is strong and entry expectations are clear.

Year 7 admission is coordinated through Barking and Dagenham’s application process for September entry. For the September 2026 intake, the borough’s published closing date was 31 October 2025.

Competition for places is real, and it is evidenced in local authority statistics. In the borough’s published Year 7 figures for the 2025 cycle, Greatfields received 382 applications for 210 places. This level of demand makes it important to be realistic about preferences and to understand exactly how priority is applied in the admissions criteria.

Open events are an important part of decision making, especially for a growing school. For the September 2026 transfer cycle, Barking and Dagenham listed a Greatfields open evening on Monday 29 September 2025 (6pm to 8pm), with open mornings on Wednesday 1 October 2025 and Thursday 2 October 2025 (both 9am). If you are planning further ahead, the pattern suggests late September to early October as the typical open event window, but families should check the school and council pages each year for the current booking arrangements and any changes.

For sixth form, applications are made directly to the school. The school states that interviews commence from January 2026 once an application and reference are received. For families weighing internal progression versus joining from another school, the most important questions are entry requirements for each course, how oversubscription is handled, and how the sixth form supports students who need a stronger transition into advanced study.

Pastoral systems appear closely linked to the behaviour and attendance strategy. The school describes a culture of respect, with high expectations around conduct across lessons and social time. When pupils need a reset, an Inclusion Hub is used as a purposeful learning space rather than a purely punitive removal room. That distinction matters for families, because the best behaviour systems both protect learning for the majority and create a route back into mainstream lessons for pupils who are struggling.

Personal development is also explicit in the taught programme. Students receive personal, social, health and economic education including relationships and sex education, with an emphasis on respect and healthy relationships. Reading is given protected time through Drop Everything and Read (DEAR), which functions both as literacy development and as a calm, shared habit that can reduce the fragmented feel of a busy school day.

A defining feature of Greatfields is how it uses the end of the formal school day. Extra curricular activities are positioned as an extension of the school week rather than an optional add on for a small minority, with enrichment scheduled after 3pm and a stated expectation that pupils take part. The practical implication is that families should think about transport and commitments not just for 8.40am to 3pm, but for the wider rhythm of the week.

The programme is also specific, not generic. Published enrichment timetables show named clubs including Maths Club, Debate Club, Sustainability Club, Drama Club, Musical Theatre and Choir, and year group homework support. This breadth suits pupils who benefit from structure and routine, particularly those who might not otherwise access organised activities outside school.

Sport is a clear pillar. The school lists competitive participation across football, basketball, athletics, netball, handball, rugby, cricket, badminton, and cross country. The wider offer also includes dance and debating, which feature in the latest inspection narrative as activities pupils can access beyond lessons. For parents, this matters because extracurricular engagement often correlates with attendance, confidence, and a stronger sense of belonging, particularly in a large secondary where it can be easy to drift.

The formal school day runs from 8.40am to 3pm, with form time 8.40am to 9.00am and five one hour lessons across the day. Extra curricular activities take place from 3pm onwards, and the published enrichment window commonly runs 3pm to 4pm Monday to Thursday.

Term dates for 2025 to 26 follow a standard local authority pattern, with the summer term ending on Friday 17 July 2026.

For travel, most families will be thinking in terms of public transport links around Barking. If you are attending open events or considering the school day plus after school enrichment, plan the return journey for later pick ups and check timings against your child’s likely club schedule.

• Sixth form outcomes. A level results are currently below England averages for top grades, so families should ask detailed questions about subject availability, teaching capacity, and how the sixth form supports independent study.

• Assessment consistency. External review highlights that checking understanding is not always consistent, which can affect how quickly misconceptions are corrected. Ask what routine assessment looks like in the subjects your child will take most seriously.

• Demand for Year 7 places. Borough statistics show more applications than places in the most recently published cycle, so admissions strategy and realistic preferences matter.

• Extended day logistics. With enrichment after 3pm and a culture of participation, transport and family schedules need to accommodate a longer day several times per week.

Greatfields is a school built around routines, clear expectations, and the purposeful use of time, with enrichment positioned as part of the core offer rather than a bonus. Its GCSE profile suggests a school delivering above average progress, while sixth form outcomes indicate the post 16 phase is still an area to scrutinise closely.

Best suited to families who want a structured culture, an extended day with defined activities, and a community focused secondary that has invested in modern facilities. Competition for Year 7 places is the limiting factor, and families serious about this option should use the FindMySchool Saved Schools feature to manage their shortlist while tracking admissions deadlines and open events.