Cranford Community College Review 2026: Strong GCSE outcomes in Hounslow, with a sixth form that suits self-motivated students

For families in Cranford and the wider Hounslow area, this is a large, mixed 11 to 18 secondary with a clear emphasis on high expectations and calm learning routines. The most recent full inspection outcome is Good (9 March 2022), with Good grades across quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision.

On results, the school’s GCSE performance sits above England average by several measures, and its FindMySchool GCSE ranking places it comfortably within the top quarter of schools in England. The sixth form picture is more mixed, with outcomes that suggest students need to be organised and consistent in their independent study to thrive. Where the school stands out is in breadth and access, a wide curriculum offer, structured enrichment, and a strong emphasis on safety and pastoral follow through.

There is a purposeful feel to the way learning is described here. Expectations are framed around attentiveness in lessons, steady routines, and staff support that focuses on helping pupils tackle what they find difficult. That combination matters in a large secondary, because consistency is what stops behaviour and low-level disruption from eroding learning time.

Pastoral systems are described as responsive rather than performative. Pupils report that they can identify trusted adults, and there is a clear signal that serious incidents, including bullying, are dealt with quickly so that problems do not linger. This is the sort of operational detail that tends to correlate with stable attendance and fewer avoidable behaviour escalations, especially for families weighing up whether a big school will feel “too big”.

The school also operates an on-site specially resourced provision named Three Bridges Twilight, and it makes limited use of alternative provision for a small number of pupils through Woodbridge Park Education Service. For parents, the implication is that inclusion is not only a policy statement. There are defined pathways and partnerships for pupils who need something different at certain points, alongside an expectation that pupils with SEND are supported to learn the same curriculum content wherever possible.

Leadership is currently listed as Mr Robert Ind and Ms Rita Berndt. (A start date is not consistently published in accessible official sources.) For families, what matters day to day is that operational leadership and pastoral systems are coherent, and that staff roles and expectations are clear across a large organisation. The available evidence points in that direction.

The headline at GCSE is that outcomes are above England average and strong relative to many local comparators.

GCSE ranking (FindMySchool)

Ranked 851st in England and 8th in Hounslow for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This places the school above England average, within the top 25% of schools in England.

At GCSE level, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 54, which is notably higher than the England average shown (0.459). The dataset also reports an EBACC average point score of 5.12 (England average 4.08), and a Progress 8 score of +0.6, indicating pupils make well above average progress from their starting points. These three measures together usually point to a school where teaching is effective across subjects, not only concentrated in one department.

The EBACC picture is more nuanced. The dataset reports 32.9% achieving grades 5 or above across the EBACC. For some families, that will be less about “good” or “bad” and more about fit. If a child is aiming for a strongly academic EBACC route, it is worth asking how the school supports EBACC pathways and how option choices are structured. If a child is better suited to a broader balance of academic and applied subjects, the wider curriculum and careers guidance described in the inspection evidence may be the more relevant signal.

Sixth form ranking (FindMySchool)

Ranked 2,057th in England and 18th in Hounslow for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This places the sixth form below England average overall.

A-level grades show 4.08% at A*, 9.69% at A, 15.31% at B, and 29.08% at A* to B combined. The England average for A* to A is shown as 23.6%, and for A* to B as 47.2%. In practical terms, the sixth form can suit students who are organised, attend consistently, and use support early rather than waiting until assessment deadlines. It also raises an important admissions question for external applicants, which subjects perform strongest, and what entry requirements and support structures look like for students joining at Year 12.

Parents comparing local options can use FindMySchool’s Local Hub pages and Comparison Tool to view these results alongside nearby schools using the same metrics and the same England benchmarks.

The most useful evidence here is about how learning is structured, not only the headline grade. Curriculum leaders have thought carefully about progression over time, and subject expertise is described as a strength, with teachers enriching vocabulary and pushing pupils to engage with complex ideas. In day-to-day terms, that often looks like lessons that revisit prior learning routinely and expect pupils to recall and apply knowledge rather than simply completing tasks.

Assessment is an area where consistency matters most in large secondaries. The available evidence highlights that teachers generally check learning regularly, but that expectations around routine assessment and recall were not consistently clear across all subjects, including in the sixth form. For families, the implication is that experiences can vary between departments. If your child has subjects where they need frequent feedback to stay on track, it is worth asking how each department checks understanding and how quickly gaps are acted on.

Key stage 3 breadth is another important point. The evidence indicates that, beyond Year 7, pupils do not study both history and geography in a way that matches the full breadth of the national curriculum, and that leaders were revising curriculum coverage. Parents looking for a broad humanities entitlement through Years 7 to 9 should ask how current timetables and option pathways are structured now, and whether this has changed since the 2022 inspection.

For pupils with SEND, support is described as coordinated between teachers and teaching assistants, with a focus on identifying and using the most effective strategies consistently. Reading support is provided where needed, with a focus on rapid catch-up and fluency. This matters because literacy is the gateway to achievement across subjects, especially at GCSE.

There are two different questions parents usually mean here, what happens after Year 11, and what happens after Year 13.

After Year 11

staying into sixth form is the common pathway for many pupils, but the best question to ask is about fit. Which subjects are most popular, how are students guided towards the right combinations, and what happens if a student’s predicted grades change between mock exams and results day.

After Year 13

in the 2023/24 leavers cohort (219 students), 58% progressed to university, 5% started apprenticeships, and 18% entered employment. This is a practical, mixed destinations profile, and it signals that post-18 planning is not “one track”. It is also a useful reminder to ask what the school does for students pursuing apprenticeships or employment, not only university applicants.

On elite university applications, the dataset records 12 Oxbridge applications, one offer, and one acceptance in the recorded period. That is not a volume pipeline, but it does indicate the school supports individual students to apply when it is the right route, rather than positioning Oxbridge as a default expectation.

From a parent perspective, the implication is straightforward. Students aiming for competitive universities will usually need strong grades and sustained academic habits. Students aiming for apprenticeships or direct employment should expect to engage early with careers guidance, placements, and interview preparation.

For Year 7 entry (September 2026) in Hounslow, the co-ordinated local authority timetable is explicit:

• Applications opened 1 September 2025

• The on-time deadline was 31 October 2025

• Offer day is 2 March 2026

• Deadline to accept an offer is 16 March 2026

• Deadline to lodge an appeal is 13 April 2026

If you are applying in the normal admissions round, it is essential to treat these dates as fixed and plan backwards from them. Late applications are processed after on-time allocations, which can materially change outcomes in competitive areas.

For in-year admissions (moving schools during the school year), Hounslow Council states that some schools manage their own in-year process, and Cranford Community College is explicitly listed among them. That distinction matters because the route, the paperwork, and the decision timeline can differ from the local authority pathway.

To understand your realistic chances in any given year, families should use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check distance carefully where distance is a criterion, and then verify the school’s oversubscription priorities and any supplementary requirements for the relevant admission year.

The evidence points to a school that treats safeguarding and pastoral coordination as operational priorities, not an add-on. The safeguarding arrangements were judged effective in the most recent inspection, with staff training, clear reporting systems, and coordination with outside agencies where needed.

For families, the practical implication is that concerns are more likely to be picked up and escalated appropriately, especially for pupils who need additional mental health or wellbeing support. The evidence also highlights that staffing to support wellbeing has been increased, with availability extending through school holidays for pupils who need it.

A final point that often matters in large schools is whether pupils who struggle to settle are left to drift. The available evidence indicates heads of year and form tutors play an active role in helping pupils move into routines and focus in class. That is the kind of early intervention that can prevent minor issues from becoming entrenched patterns.

The school’s enrichment offer is described in a structured way, which is often a better sign than a long, generic clubs list. A key example is the “mind, body and soul” programme, which involves pupils in a variety of activities each half term. Examples given include needlecraft, debating contemporary issues, swimming, and learning about different languages and cultures.

The evidence also references a relaunch of wider-curricular activity following COVID-19 restrictions, including theatre trips, overseas travel, and an award scheme designed to develop skills for life and work. The implication is that enrichment is being used as a vehicle for confidence and wider experience, rather than simply a timetable filler.

Careers education is another area where enrichment connects directly to outcomes. The evidence describes a comprehensive careers education and guidance programme covering apprenticeships and university pathways, and it notes sixth form students taking leadership roles, including organising charity events. That combination tends to work best when students are given real responsibility, with adult oversight, and when careers guidance starts early enough to shape subject choices.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still plan for the usual secondary costs, uniform, equipment, curriculum materials where required, trips, and optional extras such as music tuition where offered.

Published information on daily start and finish times, as well as any breakfast or after-school provision, is not consistently available through accessible official sources. Families should confirm timings and any wraparound arrangements directly, particularly if childcare and commuting are central to the decision.

• Sixth form outcomes vary by student profile. The A-level ranking sits below England average overall, and the strongest fit is often for students who are already consistent in attendance, organisation, and independent study habits.

• Key stage 3 breadth is worth checking. Evidence indicates the humanities offer was not fully aligned to national curriculum breadth beyond Year 7 at the time of the last inspection, with leaders working on curriculum coverage. Ask how this is structured now, especially if history and geography matter to your child.

• A large school requires confidence with structure. Many pupils thrive in big schools because there are more subject options and more peer groups, but some children prefer smaller settings. It is worth exploring how form time, heads of year, and pastoral systems support quieter pupils.

• In-year applications follow a different route. If you are moving mid-year, Hounslow Council lists the school as managing its own in-year admissions process, so timelines and documentation may differ from the standard local authority route.

Cranford Community College offers a solid, well-run secondary experience with above-average GCSE outcomes and a clear emphasis on calm routines, safety, and structured enrichment. The sixth form can work well for students who take ownership of their study habits and engage early with academic support and careers guidance.

Best suited to families seeking a mainstream, mixed 11 to 18 school in Hounslow with strong progress at GCSE and a broad enrichment offer. The main decision point is whether the sixth form outcomes and subject pathway match your child’s ambitions and working style.