City of London Academy Highgate Hill Review 2026: From Strength to Strength

When the City of London Academy Highgate Hill opened in September 2017 on the site of Mount Carmel Catholic College for Girls, it inherited a historic building but adopted an entirely fresh purpose. Seven years later, it stands as a compelling example of how a young state school can achieve academic outcomes that rival much older institutions. Across the main school and the remarkable sixth form that joined in 2022, nearly 900 students benefit from rigorous teaching, free instrumental music tuition, and A-level results that place the school in the top 5% nationally (FindMySchool ranking). The overall school was rated Good by Ofsted in May 2024, with the sixth form rated Outstanding. For families in Islington seeking demanding academics without fees, this academy delivers.

Situated in Archway, on Duncombe Road near the iconic red-brick landscape of the Victorian era, City of London Academy Highgate Hill combines heritage spaces with modern facilities. The building speaks to its dual purpose: converted classrooms serve the lower school, whilst the gleaming sixth form wing, completed in early 2024, creates a visibly distinct environment for older students. The academy operates under the City of London Academies Trust umbrella, alongside schools in Hackney, Southwark, and Islington, all sharing a commitment to transforming life chances through education.

Principal Prince Gennuh has led the school since its foundation in 2018, establishing what staff and students describe as a purposeful culture underpinned by three core values: Altruism, Respect, and Tenacity. Behaviour is calm and focused. Classrooms operate with minimal disruption. Students wear uniform consistently, and expectations around work ethic are explicit and rigorously enforced.

The school's defining characteristic is ambitious academics combined with genuine breadth. Every Year 7 and Year 8 pupil receives a free stringed instrument (violin, viola, or cello) and weekly music tuition as part of the MiSST Schools Programme, a partnership that has transformed music participation. This is not an optional extra; it is woven into the curriculum, with ensembles performing at prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall and the Guildhall.

GCSE Performance

The main school sits in a complex position. At GCSE, results reflect a comprehensive intake from a diverse, economically challenged part of north London. The average Attainment 8 score stands at 45.5, below the England average of 45.9. However, this figure masks important context: pupils here often enter secondary with lower prior attainment than peers in selective systems. Progress matters more than raw grades, and the Progress 8 score of +0.12 indicates students make progress in line with national averages.

In 2024, pupils achieved strong English Baccalaureate outcomes, with 23% reaching Grade 5 and above (the benchmark for strong performance). The school prioritises breadth: all students study English, mathematics, combined or separate sciences, a language, and a humanities or creative subject. Nearly two-thirds of students achieve a Grade 4 or higher in English and mathematics, showing solid acquisition of core skills.

The school ranks 1,659th in England for GCSE results, placing it in the middle 35% of schools (FindMySchool ranking). Locally, within Islington, it ranks 8th among secondary schools.

A-Level and Sixth Form Excellence

The sixth form tells a strikingly different story. Islington Collegiate Sixth Form (ICS), which opened in September 2022 and relocated to its purpose-built facility in early 2024, has rapidly established itself as an academic force. A-level results in 2024 demonstrate this trajectory powerfully: 24% of entries achieved A*, 34% achieved A, and 85% achieved A*-B overall. The average grade sits just below A minus, placing the school among the elite performers in London.

These figures represent exceptional value-added. ICS ranks 132nd in England for A-level performance, placing it in the top 5% nationally (FindMySchool ranking) and 1st in Islington. The school has been described, with only slight exaggeration, as "more rigorous than Eton" for its uncompromising academic culture. In 2024, the school achieved among the best A-Level results in London, ranking in the top 1% in the country for value-added performance in several subjects. Students progress to Russell Group universities and Oxbridge in significant numbers.

The sixth form entry requirement is typically GCSE grades 6 or 7 across core subjects, with specific subject prerequisites. Students select three or four A-levels. Class sizes remain below 20, ensuring intensive teaching. The curriculum combines traditional academic rigour with a "Super Curriculum" programme featuring guest lectures, field trips, and mentoring from professional partners including MUFG Bank, Macquarie Group, and the Big Alliance.

Lessons follow explicit, structured patterns. Teachers use clear explanations, guided practice, and independent application. Subject knowledge is strong; staff specialise. The school draws on resources from the City of London Corporation, a historic tradition that translates into access to guest speakers, workplace mentoring, and partnerships with financial and professional firms.

Year 9 students are placed into achievement streams based on Key Stage 2 attainment and progress. This allows differentiation without rigid setting. Triple science is available for students aiming for STEM pathways. Languages are compulsory at Key Stage 3, with French, Spanish, and Mandarin offered. At GCSE, the full range of national curriculum subjects is available, from art and design to computer science, business studies, and PE.

For sixth formers, over 20 A-level subjects span sciences, humanities, languages, and the arts. Further Mathematics, Classical Studies, and Economics reflect academic ambition. The "Personal Development Curriculum" and "Post-18 Pathways" programmes ensure students receive structured advice on university applications, apprenticeships, and gap year planning.

Main School (Year 11)

Year 11 pupils typically progress to the school's own sixth form, Islington Collegiate. Others move to state sixth forms in Islington and beyond, or to universities via alternative routes. The school actively promotes diverse post-16 options, including apprenticeships and further education colleges, though the default expectation remains academic progression.

Sixth Form (Year 13)

Recent leavers have secured places at top universities. The partnership with MUFG and other employers creates mentoring and internship opportunities. Students regularly progress to Russell Group universities; several have secured medicine and law places. Oxbridge applications occur each year, though specific numbers are not published on the school website. The top destinations include Durham, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Warwick, alongside London universities. Some students enter professional apprenticeships or gap year schemes with structured sponsorship.

Music: The MiSST Programme and Ensembles

The defining extracurricular pillar is instrumental music. Year 7 and Year 8 pupils receive a free violin, viola, or cello, plus weekly tuition, through the MiSST (Music in Secondary Schools Tuition) programme. Participation is universal, not optional. This has created a culture where live music is normal.

The music department runs the Choir, Orchestra, Drumming Group, Music Technology Club, Music Theory Group, and Student Radio. Ensembles perform at external concerts including the Royal Albert Hall and Roundhouse Theatre, raising standards and prestige. Music scholars may continue with free tuition at GCSE and beyond.

Sports: Participation and Competition

Sport is compulsory until Key Stage 4, with regular fixtures across football, netball, taekwondo, and trampolining. The school facilities include a sports hall (22m x 13m, marked for badminton, basketball, football, and netball), a floodlit Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), and a dedicated dance and fitness studio. Teams compete in local and borough competitions. Physical Education at Key Stage 4 includes both practical and theoretical components, with BTEC PE available for those seeking vocational qualification.

Creative Arts and Drama

Creative learning is embedded across the curriculum. Beyond formal art, music, and drama GCSE options, the school produces termly performances and exhibitions. Years 7-8 participate in enrichment activities on Tuesdays and Wednesdays covering arts, culture, and personal development. Drama students have staged productions at community venues and showcased work at school-wide events.

Academic and Enterprise Clubs

Student leadership is strongly encouraged. The Student Council, Student Headship Team, and Year 10 Prefects programme develop organisational skills. The school partners with Fusion Skills and Big Alliance to run career ambassador schemes. Year 10 Careers Interviews are compulsory, supported by mentoring partnerships with MUFG Bank, Macquarie Group, and other City employers. Sixth form students have attended conferences such as the ESU Schools Mace Debate Competition and industry-specific seminars at CERN and beyond.

Languages and Cultural Exchange

All pupils study at least one foreign language. French, Spanish, and Mandarin are offered. The school emphasises cultural understanding and prepares students for life in a globalised economy. School trips and community partnerships extend this cultural breadth.

Wellbeing and Pastoral Innovation

Year 7 transition is carefully managed with summer visits, transition interviews, and two days of induction in September. Each student has a tutor and access to mental health and wellbeing support. The school holds Healthy Schools recognition (Bronze award, renewed through 2026). Student voice is taken seriously, with regular parent meetings and a dedicated MCAS parent app keeping families informed.

Entry to Year 7 is non-selective in principle but uses a banding system to ensure fair access. Pupils sit a non-verbal reasoning test in September (typically four Saturdays in late September and early October). Applicants are placed into one of four bands based on performance. Places are then allocated across the bands, with priority for looked-after children, siblings, children with EHCPs, and then by distance from the school.

The school receives approximately 2.5 applications for every place available (oversubscribed). Parents apply through Islington Council's coordinated admissions system. The school publishes open mornings and open evenings in September (typically mid to late September), with booking via the school website. School hours run 8:25am–2:45pm Monday, Thursday, Friday; 8:25am–3:40pm Tuesday and Wednesday.

For sixth form, admission to Islington Collegiate requires GCSE grades 6 and 7 in core subjects, with subject-specific requirements. Sixth form applications open in autumn, with interviews in late autumn and offers released by late December. Entry is selective, attracting 50-150 applications per 80-100 places available, depending on popularity of subjects.

The academy is located in Archway, north London, on Duncombe Road close to Holland Walk. Public transport is excellent: the 210 bus stops within five minutes' walk. The Northern Line (Highgate station) is accessible via short walk or local transport. The school notes that parking is limited on site but prioritised for those with accessibility needs. On-site parking is available for visitors with notice.

Lunch is provided through Aspens Food, with hot meals and vegetarian/vegan options. Free school meals are available for eligible families. Uniform is compulsory and relatively traditional (blazer, tie, trousers/skirt, white shirt). The school is fully accessible for wheelchair users and those with physical disabilities.

Main School GCSE Results Are Typical, Not Exceptional. If raw GCSE grades are your primary focus, this is not a selective school with exceptional grades across the board. Many pupils enter Year 7 below the expected level. Grades improve, but progress 8 remains around the England average. This is a comprehensive school that serves a diverse, economically disadvantaged community. Families seeking the highest-achieving GCSE cohorts in Islington should look at selective grammars or independent schools.

Year 11 to Year 12 Transition Requires Rigour. Entry to the sixth form is selective and demanding. Not all pupils progressing from the main school to sixth form will find places. The sixth form is modelled on selective provision, attracting strong external candidates. Year 11 pupils aspiring to sixth form must achieve high GCSE grades. This can create a two-tier experience within the same building.

Instrumental Music is Compulsory, Not Optional. The MiSST programme is brilliant for many students but commits all Year 7-8 pupils to weekly music lessons and ensemble participation. Families uncomfortable with this should look elsewhere. However, for those who embrace it, the social and cultural impact is profound and genuine.

Diversity and Deprivation Are Defining Features. The school serves a neighbourhood where over half of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 94% are from minority ethnic backgrounds. This is a strength — cultural diversity is lived daily — but families seeking affluent, socially homogeneous cohorts will not find that here. The school thrives on community, not exclusivity.

City of London Academy Highgate Hill represents a particular model of state education: academically ambitious, culturally rich, and uncompromisingly inclusive. The main school delivers solid outcomes and genuine breadth; the sixth form is genuinely elite and attracts ambitious external students. The music programme, leadership structure, and pastoral systems are all well-designed and purposeful. The Ofsted Good rating (with Outstanding sixth form) reflects these strengths.

This school suits families who value academic rigour, cultural diversity, and practical support over selective entry or traditional prestige. It suits young people with genuine intellectual curiosity and commitment to work. It particularly suits musicians or those open to discovering music. It does not suit families seeking the easiest route to high GCSE grades or those prioritising social cohesion over diversity. For the right families within the Islington catchment, and for high-achieving sixth form applicants from across London, this is an excellent choice.