Oaks Park High School, Ilford: Rising Star of Redbridge

Pupils work hard and achieve exceptionally well at this large comprehensive in Newbury Park. The April 2025 Ofsted visit found significant improvement across all areas, positioning the school for an Outstanding rating at its next graded inspection. With nearly 1,900 students across Years 7 to 13, Oaks Park combines the resources of a large institution with a genuinely inclusive ethos. The Progress 8 score of +0.63 places this school among the highest value-adding comprehensives in Redbridge, demonstrating that pupils make well above average progress regardless of their starting points.

The school motto, Learning together Achieving together, captures a culture where difference is valued and ambitious expectations apply to everyone. From its deaf provision to its More Able Programme, this is a school that refuses to choose between inclusion and achievement.

Oaks Park opened in September 2001, built under the Private Finance Initiative to meet growing demand for secondary places in Redbridge. The borough faced a genuine shortage of school places, and Oaks Park was the solution. From an initial intake of just 180 pupils in Years 7 and 8, operating from temporary accommodation while the permanent buildings rose around them, the school has grown into one of Redbridge's largest institutions with over 1,500 students in the main school and 400 in the sixth form.

The campus now sprawls across multiple buildings along Oaks Lane. The original PFI structures remain, but the most striking addition came in January 2016 with the opening of the £13 million Craig Foster building. This purpose-built block houses science laboratories, drama studios, media production facilities, and dedicated sixth form spaces. The investment signalled that Oaks Park had moved decisively beyond its origins as a PFI stopgap; this was now a school building for the long term.

Ms Joanne Hamill leads the school as Headteacher. Following the April 2025 inspection, she described the positive feedback as a testament to the teamwork and care that underpin everything we do. Inspectors were equally complimentary, describing leadership as exceptional and noting that staff benefit from high-quality professional development opportunities. The school is clearly well-led, with a senior team that has sustained improvement over several years.

The school became a Specialist Music College in 2006, the same year the sixth form opened. Music continues to play an important role in school life, though the specialist status is now one thread in a broader tapestry of enrichment. The school has held International School status since 2011, earning the British Council International School Award Intermediate Certificate. International work includes video conferences with partner schools abroad; recent exchanges with Chung-Hsing School in Taiwan saw students discussing sustainable development and the impact of COVID-19 on young people. These connections give students a window onto global perspectives.

This is a diverse community where bullying and discriminatory language are rare. Pupils are respectful and polite towards each other and staff. The school describes itself as an ambitious and supportive multi-cultural community, and the inspection evidence supports this characterisation. The specially resourced provision for deaf students demonstrates genuine commitment to inclusion; this is not token provision but a meaningful programme with specialist support.

Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities achieve highly because teachers adapt lessons so they can access the same learning as their peers. The school takes the view that high expectations apply to everyone, and the outcomes justify this approach.

The school ranks 752nd in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it above the England average and within the top 25% of schools in England. This is a significant achievement for a non-selective comprehensive drawing from a mixed catchment. In Redbridge, where competition from grammar schools and high-performing academies is fierce, Oaks Park holds its own at 7th among secondary schools locally.

The Attainment 8 score of 55.5 significantly exceeds the England average of 45.9. This metric measures performance across eight subjects, giving weight to English and mathematics alongside the broader curriculum. The score reflects strong teaching across departments, not just in isolated pockets of excellence.

The Progress 8 score of +0.63 is the headline figure. This measures how much progress pupils make between the end of primary school and their GCSE results, compared to pupils nationally with similar starting points. A score of zero would indicate average progress; a score of +0.63 indicates pupils at Oaks Park make substantially more progress than would be expected. This is a school that adds genuine value. Pupils arrive with varying abilities and leave having exceeded expectations.

The EBacc average point score of 5.13 sits above the England average of 4.08, reflecting success across the academic core of English, mathematics, science, languages, and humanities. The EBacc pathway remains important here, with the school encouraging students to pursue a broad academic curriculum alongside their options choices.

The sixth form ranks 1,409th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile). Locally, it ranks 11th in Redbridge. While this represents solid rather than exceptional performance, context matters; the sixth form draws primarily from the school's own comprehensive intake rather than skimming the highest performers from across the borough.

In 2024, 3.4% of entries achieved A*, 15.5% achieved A, and 46.4% achieved grades A*-B. The combined A*-A rate of 18.9% sits below the England average of 23.6%, though the A*-B rate of 46.4% is close to the England benchmark of 47.2%. For a non-selective school drawing from a comprehensive intake, these results represent solid progression from GCSE and demonstrate that students continue to develop through Years 12 and 13.

The sixth form has over 350 students and continues to grow. The school reports that it retains many of its own students and attracts additional applicants from neighbouring boroughs. Every student can expect a warm welcome from the Sixth Form Team, and the supportive atmosphere is frequently cited by students as a key strength. The sixth form is not just a bolt-on; it is an integral part of the school's identity.

In 2024, 73% of leavers progressed to university, a strong figure that reflects effective preparation and guidance. The school reports that many secure places at Russell Group institutions, though specific percentages are not published. One student gained a place at Cambridge, with three applications made to Oxbridge in the measurement period. While the Oxbridge conversion rate is necessarily small in absolute terms, the successful applicant demonstrates that the sixth form can support high-achieving students in competitive applications.

A further 4% of leavers entered apprenticeships, providing an alternative progression route for those seeking vocational pathways. 11% moved directly into employment. The careers programme prepares pupils extremely well for their next steps, with guidance beginning early in their school career. Students leave with a clear sense of their options and the application skills to pursue them.

Parents comparing local performance can use the Local Hub page to view these results side-by-side using the Comparison Tool. The sixth form's university progression rate compares favourably with many alternatives in the area.

The curriculum is ambitious and well-sequenced. Teachers demonstrate excellent subject knowledge and check pupil understanding regularly. This is not passive learning; lessons involve high-quality engagement and participation, with staff identifying misconceptions promptly and addressing them effectively.

In English, pupils encounter increasingly complex texts as they progress through the school, including Chaucer and Shakespeare. The department builds pupils' analytical skills systematically, preparing them for the demands of GCSE literature and beyond. Sciences benefit from the facilities in the Craig Foster building, with well-equipped laboratories supporting practical work.

Subject options span the humanities, sciences, creative arts, and languages. History, Geography, and Religious Studies feature strongly; Government and Politics appears at sixth form level alongside Film and Media. Design Technology, Computer Science, and Business and Economics provide practical and commercial pathways for those with entrepreneurial or technical interests. Modern Languages maintain the school's international dimension.

The More Able Programme targets higher-achieving students with additional challenge. This ensures that the most academically able are stretched rather than simply completing standard work more quickly. ASDAN and EAL Employability programmes support those requiring alternative pathways or additional English language development. The curriculum is genuinely differentiated, not simply middle-aimed.

Pupils thrive because they are safe and well-cared for. This is the simple conclusion that emerges from both inspection evidence and the school's own characterisation of its ethos. Staff maintain consistently high expectations for behaviour and conduct, and the result is a calm, orderly environment where learning can happen.

The school runs dedicated mental health and wellbeing services. These are not afterthoughts but central to the school's approach; students facing difficulties have clear routes to support. Sixth form students serve as role models for younger peers, creating a culture of mutual support across year groups.

The deaf provision demonstrates genuine commitment to inclusion. Teachers adapt lessons so that pupils with SEND access the same learning as their peers, and these students achieve highly as a result. The school has also recently introduced British Sign Language as an option, extending awareness of deaf culture across the student body.

Behaviour is excellent. The April 2025 inspection noted that pupils are respectful and polite, and that bullying and discriminatory language are rare. In a school of nearly 1,900 students, maintaining this culture requires sustained effort and consistent application of expectations. The school appears to have achieved this.

The school describes its extracurricular programme as wide-ranging, and inspectors noted that pupils develop resilience and leadership skills through these activities. This is not a school where enrichment is an afterthought; it is built into the fabric of school life.

Sport

Physical Education offers 12 different sports clubs at lunchtime and after school. Facilities are extensive: a sports hall with cricket nets and four badminton courts, two hard court areas for netball and handball, a 9-a-side 4G football pitch, a gymnasium with a recently refurbished fitness suite, four trampolines, and twelve table tennis tables. Students represent the school in league and cup competitions across Redbridge and beyond.

The KS3 curriculum covers netball, football, dance, table tennis, fitness, gymnastics, basketball, handball, athletics (running, javelin, discus, shot put, long jump, and high jump), cricket, and trampolining. This breadth ensures that students encounter a range of physical activities, not just the traditional team sports. At KS4, students can pursue OCR GCSE Physical Education or the BTEC Tech Award in Sport, providing both academic and vocational pathways into sports-related careers.

Creative Arts & Leadership

The Duke of Edinburgh Award runs at Bronze and Silver levels, with four components: volunteering, physical activity, skills development, and expedition planning. This programme develops self-reliance and organisational skills valued by employers and universities alike. LAMDA sessions offer one-to-one or paired tuition in Acting and Public Speaking, taught by Ben Kettner, with examinations from Grade 1 through to Gold Medal. Thirty-two students are currently enrolled, meeting at breaktimes, lunchtimes, or after school.

The school's supercurricular offer includes Sports Leadership qualifications, Mandarin Chinese, and British Sign Language. The latter was recently introduced, reflecting the school's commitment to inclusion and the presence of the deaf provision. Students raise funds for local mental health and homeless charities, embedding community service into school life.

Music & International Dimension

Music continues to play an important role following the school's designation as a Specialist Music College in 2006. While the specialist designation has evolved, music remains a strength of the school's provision. The International School Award recognises work including video conferences with partner schools discussing global issues, giving students perspectives beyond their immediate community.

Admissions for Year 7 are coordinated by Redbridge Council. Applications for September 2026 opened on 1 September 2025, with a deadline of 31 October 2025. The process uses the standard coordinated admissions round; parents list up to six preferences, and offers are made on National Offer Day in early March.

The school is oversubscribed. In the most recent data, 694 applications were received for 293 places, a subscription proportion of 2.37 applicants per place. This level of demand reflects the school's reputation and results; families are voting with their applications.

Distance is typically the most important criterion once looked-after children, those with EHCPs naming the school, and siblings have been considered. Parents should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check their precise distance from the school gates. Redbridge Council does not publish formal catchment boundaries, but living close to Oaks Lane significantly improves the chances of admission. Parents are strongly advised to name their catchment school as one of their higher preferences.

Sixth form entry is managed directly by the school. Entry requirements for September 2026 are published on the school website. The sixth form team can be contacted at sixthformteam@oakspark.redbridge.sch.uk. All places are subject to students meeting entry criteria and sufficient uptake for courses to run viably.

Open Evening information is published on the school website; events typically run in the autumn term. The Year 12 Parents' Evening is scheduled for Thursday 22 January 2026, from 2pm to 6pm, with appointments available via the My Child At School app.

The school is located at 45-65 Oaks Lane, Newbury Park, IG2 7PQ. Newbury Park Underground station on the Central line is within walking distance, making the school accessible across a wide area of East London and Essex. The Learning Resource Centre provides library services and study space. Student lockers are available.

School hours and wraparound care details are not prominently published on the website; parents should contact the school directly at 020 8590 2245 for current arrangements.

Oversubscribed entry. With 2.37 applications for every Year 7 place, distance from the school is critical. Families outside the immediate area may struggle to secure a place. Check your distance using the FindMySchoolMap Search before relying on Oaks Park as your first choice.

Sixth form results in context. While GCSE results are strong, A-level outcomes sit in the middle band nationally. The sixth form adds value from the school's own intake, but students with Oxbridge or highly competitive university aspirations may find the academic culture less intensive than at selective alternatives such as the Redbridge grammar schools.

Large school environment. With nearly 1,900 students, some pupils may prefer a smaller, more intimate setting. The school works hard to create a supportive atmosphere through its house system and pastoral structures, but size inevitably brings its own dynamics. Parents should visit to assess whether the environment suits their child.

Progress, not just arrival. The exceptional Progress 8 score shows this school adds value, but intake is comprehensive. Some students will have arrived with modest prior attainment and been stretched significantly; others will have started strong and maintained their trajectory. The school is explicitly not selective.

Oaks Park has improved significantly and appears poised for an Outstanding rating at its next graded inspection. Strong GCSE results, exceptional progress measures, and a genuinely inclusive ethos make this a compelling choice for families in Newbury Park and surrounding areas. The sixth form offers solid preparation for university, with nearly three-quarters of leavers progressing to higher education.

Best suited to families seeking a large, diverse comprehensive where every child is expected to work hard and achieve. The school adds genuine value, particularly for students who may not have thrived elsewhere. The culture is supportive but purposeful; expectations are high for everyone. Entry remains competitive. Those living close to Oaks Lane have the best chance of securing a place.

Families interested in this option can use the Saved Schools feature to manage their shortlist and compare Oaks Park with alternatives across Redbridge.