The Lea Valley Academy Review 2026: A structured Enfield secondary with a strong enrichment offer

Aspiration, Innovation and Respect sit at the centre of this school’s message to families, and it is reflected in how the day is organised and how pupils are expected to conduct themselves. The Lea Valley Academy is an 11 to 18 mixed secondary with a sixth form, part of the EdAct trust, and led by Headteacher Mr Stephen Kinson, who has been in post since January 2020.

The most recent Ofsted inspection (October 2022) graded the school as Good across every headline area, including sixth form provision.

Academic outcomes, as captured in the FindMySchool rankings and metrics, place GCSE and A-level results below England average overall, so the core question for parents is fit. Families who value clear routines, strong pastoral structures, and a timetable that makes space for enrichment days, trips and student leadership roles will find a lot to like here.

A school’s feel is often revealed by what it chooses to formalise. Here, the day is explicitly structured around six 50-minute lessons, a daily 30-minute tutor period, and targeted literacy and lesson extensions for specific year groups. That framing suggests a setting that takes routine and learning time seriously, and that seeks to reduce lost minutes through predictable rhythms.

Student leadership is similarly codified. The Student Leadership Team includes Head Boy and Head Girl in Year 11, plus two student presidents from sixth form, and it leads a Student Parliament with representatives drawn across year groups. For pupils who respond well to responsibility and public-facing roles, this creates a clear pathway from participation to leadership, and it gives parents a tangible way to understand how pupil voice operates beyond occasional surveys.

The school’s published values and messaging emphasise inclusion and mutual respect, and the October 2022 inspection narrative aligns with that, describing a respectful pupil culture and a community where pupils feel safe and supported by adults.

Leadership stability matters in schools serving large, diverse communities. Mr Stephen Kinson is named as headteacher in official sources, and trust documents indicate he has been in post since January 2020.

The Lea Valley Academy is included in FindMySchool’s England-wide rankings for secondary outcomes. For GCSE outcomes, it is ranked 3607th in England and 25th within Enfield (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), which places the school below England average overall.

At GCSE level, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 33.1, and Progress 8 is -0.68, indicating pupils, on average, make less progress than peers nationally from similar starting points. The EBacc-related measures also point to a relatively low EBacc performance profile, with 5.5% achieving grades 5 or above in the EBacc measure and an average EBacc APS of 2.92, compared with an England benchmark of 4.08 for average EBacc APS.

Sixth form outcomes show a similar overall picture in the FindMySchool ranking. Ranked 1894th in England and 16th in Enfield for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the sixth form sits below England average overall.

In the A-level grade profile provided, 40.91% of entries achieve A* to B, while the England benchmark is 47.2% for A* to B. A* grades are recorded as 0% with 9.09% at A and 31.82% at B. These are not figures to interpret in isolation, but they do suggest that families considering post-16 here should focus carefully on subject fit, teaching strength by department, and the support offered for independent study.

Parents comparing options locally can use FindMySchool’s Local Hub pages and comparison tools to view these measures alongside nearby schools, especially helpful when balancing travel time, admissions practicality, and post-16 pathways.

The curriculum is described as broad and ambitious in the most recent inspection, and the inspection narrative is useful because it provides examples of how curriculum intent translates into Key Stage 4 options. Pupils in Years 10 and 11 study at least one expressive arts subject and also select from a set that includes French, Spanish, geography and history, which signals an attempt to keep a rounded profile rather than narrowing too early.

The same inspection describes teaching that is typically supported by strategies that revisit prior learning, including homework and lesson starter activities, alongside regular checks on understanding. The most important caveat is also clearly stated: some teachers are less effective at adapting teaching in response to what pupils do not yet understand, which can leave gaps unaddressed and can slow progression to more complex work.

For parents, the practical implication is to ask targeted questions at open events. For example: how does the school support consistent teaching practice across departments, what professional development is focused on adaptive teaching, and how are pupils identified for timely catch-up when misconceptions persist.

Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is presented in the inspection as integrated rather than separated, with pupils completing the same work as peers while receiving specific help. The inspection also references early assessment of reading, numeracy and learning skills on entry, plus targeted reading support for those at an earlier stage, which matters in a school where literacy is positioned as a daily priority for younger year groups.

The school does not publish a detailed Russell Group or Oxbridge pipeline in the sources reviewed, so the most reliable destination picture comes from the DfE 16 to 18 destinations dataset provided for the 2023/24 cohort.

For that cohort, 62% progressed to university, 5% to further education, 2% to apprenticeships, and 23% to employment. The distribution suggests a sixth form that supports a range of pathways rather than a single university-only route, and it makes it sensible for families to explore careers guidance, work experience, and vocational course options alongside A-level provision.

The inspection narrative adds helpful colour without adding numbers. It notes that pupils receive careers information, education and guidance from Year 7 through to sixth form, and that sixth formers take on leadership roles such as literacy or sports leaders.

Year 7 admissions are coordinated through the London Borough of Enfield, rather than through direct application to the school. The school’s published information confirms that allocation is handled by the borough admissions service, and it sets the school’s planned admission number at 150 pupils per year group.

For September 2026 entry, Enfield’s published timetable indicates that online applications open on 1 September 2025 and the application deadline is 31 October 2025, with offers communicated on 2 March 2026.

Open events are a key part of understanding fit. For the September 2026 transfer cycle, the borough’s open evening schedule lists The Lea Valley Academy’s open evening as Thursday 25 September 2025, 5.30pm to 8pm, and the council advises families to check school websites for current booking requirements and any updates.

For sixth form, the school publishes a set of key dates that provide a useful timing guide. It lists closing dates for internal applications in late January and for external applications in mid February, followed by interviews running through spring and enrolment aligned with GCSE results day in August. These dates are presented without years, so treat them as a typical annual pattern and confirm the current cycle directly via the school’s sixth form pages.

Pastoral provision is described in multiple places, and the overlap across sources is reassuring. The Enfield secondary guide entry for the school describes a pastoral structure built around Heads of Year, Student Managers and form tutors, intended to provide continuity for families through the secondary phase.

Safeguarding information on the school website identifies a safeguarding team that includes the designated safeguarding lead and senior leaders, which gives parents clarity about points of escalation.

Inspectors explicitly stated that safeguarding arrangements are effective, and the inspection narrative describes a culture of safeguarding supported by staff training, prompt reporting of concerns, and effective work with external agencies, alongside counselling and mentoring for pupils identified as vulnerable.

Behaviour and bullying are addressed with a similar level of specificity in the inspection narrative. It indicates that leaders do not tolerate bullying, and that when it occurs it is handled effectively, with pupils confident there is an adult to speak to if needed.

The enrichment offer stands out because it is framed as a set of guarantees rather than a vague promise. The school states that pupils will have opportunities including educational visits, attending artistic or sporting events at major venues, participating in a performance or production context, volunteering or charity events, and taking part in a residential trip. It also states that pupils take part in five Enrichment Days each year, with examples including outdoor team building, a London museum visit, a multicultural day, and visiting speakers.

This matters because it creates a consistent baseline experience, even for pupils who might not initially join after-school activities. For families concerned about access to cultural experiences, especially in a diverse borough context, that approach can broaden horizons and build confidence. The implication for parents is practical: ask how Enrichment Days are funded, what is subsidised for eligible families, and how the school ensures broad participation.

There are also specific, named opportunities that help this section avoid generic claims. A Homework Support Club is run in the library after school, with subject-specific days across the week, and the library is also open before school, as well as at break and lunch, for computer access or quiet study. For pupils who need structure to complete independent work, this can reduce end-of-day stress at home and can improve homework completion routines.

Student Voice is not merely a statement of intent. The Student Parliament meets on a scheduled half-term rhythm, is chaired by sixth form student presidents, and includes formal roles such as a Student Parliament Secretary responsible for minutes and feedback loops. There is also an explicit link to termly campaigns and responsibilities at events such as parents’ evenings and graduation, plus involvement in interview panels and the Jack Petchey Award nomination process. This is a strong option for students who gain confidence through responsibility and public contribution.

The inspection report adds further examples of wider life: trips and visits to London landmarks and museums are described as a feature of school life; pupils can develop interests from music and drama to sports and quilling, and student council activity is referenced. Quilling is a notably distinctive detail, suggesting that the enrichment menu includes creative crafts beyond the usual headline clubs.

The published school day starts at 8.30am for all students. Finish times vary by year group through the week, with Years 7 to 9 finishing at 3.20pm Monday to Thursday and Years 10 to 11 finishing at 3.40pm Monday to Thursday. Fridays finish at 1.40pm, with enrichment activities available afterwards.

Homework support is explicitly available after school on multiple days and provides a practical option for families balancing work schedules or supporting independent study routines.

Transport details such as specific bus routes are not consistently published in the official sources reviewed, so families should prioritise a test-run journey at school start time, and verify travel practicality alongside admissions realism.

• Below-average headline outcomes at GCSE and A-level. The FindMySchool rankings place GCSE and A-level outcomes below England average overall. Families should explore department-level strength, study support, and how the school addresses gaps in learning, particularly given the inspection’s note that some teachers need to adapt teaching more effectively.

• A school model that relies on routine and expectations. The day includes structured tutor time, daily literacy or lesson extensions for some year groups, and a clear behaviour approach. This suits pupils who respond well to consistency, but may feel demanding for those who struggle with tight routines.

• Enrichment is a strength, but parents should ask about costs. The school emphasises trips, events, enrichment days and residential experiences. That can be a genuine advantage, but families should ask what is subsidised, what is optional, and what support exists for pupils who might otherwise miss out.

• Admissions timing is non-negotiable. For September 2026 entry, the Enfield deadline is 31 October 2025 and offers follow on 2 March 2026. Late applications are treated as late, so families should plan early and use open events to pressure-test fit.

The Lea Valley Academy presents as a school with clear structures, a serious approach to safeguarding and personal development, and an enrichment programme designed to give pupils broader experiences of London, culture and leadership. It is not a school to choose primarily for headline results, given the below-average performance profile in the FindMySchool metrics, but it may suit families seeking strong routines, accessible student leadership pathways, and a sixth form that supports varied destinations including university, employment and apprenticeships.