Secondary schools in Barking & Dagenham by GCSE results

Choosing a secondary school is one of the biggest decisions you make for your child. Exam results are only one part of the picture, but they are the part most parents ask us about first. This guide lists the 2025 GCSE results for state-funded secondary schools in Barking & Dagenham and explains what the numbers actually mean.

How did Barking & Dagenham secondary schools do at GCSE in 2025?

Most schools in the borough scored between about 45 and 56 on Attainment 8, and several were above the England average of 46.0. The table below uses the 2024/25 Department for Education figures as reported by the Barking and Dagenham Post. Where the article gave the percentage of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths, we have included it. A dash means the figure was not given in that source, not that it is zero.

For comparison, the Department for Education's 2024/25 key stage 4 statistics give an England average Attainment 8 score of 46.0. Across England, 45.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in both English and maths.

To check any school yourself, including figures not shown here, use the government's compare school performance service. It also links to each school's Ofsted reports.

What does Attainment 8 actually mean?

Attainment 8 is the average score pupils at a school get across eight GCSE-type subjects. The Department for Education defines the eight slots like this:

• English – counted twice, if the pupil takes both English Language and English Literature
• Maths – always counted twice
• Three EBacc subjects – sciences, computer science, history, geography or a language
• Three other subjects – these can be more EBacc subjects, other GCSEs or approved non-GCSE qualifications

Because English and maths count double, there are really ten "slots". Each GCSE grade from 9 to 1 is worth the same number of points, so the highest possible score is 90.

A simple way to read the score

Divide the Attainment 8 score by 10 to get a rough average grade per subject. A school with a score of 50 means its pupils averaged roughly a grade 5. A score of 40 is roughly a grade 4. This is only a rule of thumb, but it makes the numbers easier to picture.

Why is there no Progress 8 score this year?

Progress 8 was not published for 2025 because the data it needs does not exist. Progress 8 compares each pupil's GCSE results with their Year 6 SATs results. The pupils who sat GCSEs in 2025 did not take Year 6 SATs, because those tests were cancelled during Covid. The Department for Education says progress measures will not be published for 2024/25 or 2025/26.

This matters. Attainment 8 shows how well pupils did, but not how much the school helped them. A school that takes in many children who are behind at age 11 may do a very good job and still have a lower score. Progress 8 was designed to show that, and for now we do not have it.

What should I look at apart from exam results?

Results are a useful starting point, but they are not the whole story. The government's own advice on choosing a school suggests visiting the school, reading its latest Ofsted report, checking performance tables and talking to other parents.

Here are some questions worth asking at an open evening:

• How are Year 7s grouped or set in maths and English?
• What happens if a child falls behind? Is there catch-up support?
• Which exam boards does the school use for GCSE maths and English?
• How much homework should a Year 7 expect each week?
• Does the school have its own sixth form, and what are the entry grades?

Also think about the journey. A school with slightly lower results that your child can walk to, with friends, may suit them better than a long bus ride each way.

Does the school my child goes to decide their grades?

The school matters, but it does not decide everything. Within every school on this list, some pupils get grade 7s, 8s and 9s and some find GCSEs very hard. What happens at home, attendance, reading habits and getting help early all make a real difference.

If your child is starting at a school with a lower score, that is not a reason to panic. It is a reason to keep a close eye on their progress from Year 7, ask the school regular questions and act early if gaps appear. Our guide on whether your child needs a tutor in Year 7 covers the signs to look for.

How do I apply for a secondary school in Barking & Dagenham?

You apply through your local council, not directly to the school, while your child is in Year 6. GOV.UK lets you apply online or on your council's form. Check the Barking and Dagenham Council admissions page for this year's exact closing date, and list several schools in your order of preference.

How LCB can help

We are a small-group tutoring centre in Barking, and we teach children from schools across the borough. Whatever school your child attends, we teach to their exam board and the topics their class is covering.

Groups are 3 to 5 pupils, with the same tutor every week and a monthly progress report. We teach KS3 and GCSE Maths, Science and English, in person at our Barking centre or live online. GCSE and KS3 plans start at £52 a month for one lesson a week.

You can read more about tutoring in Barking and our GCSE tutoring, or book a free assessment. In 30 minutes we find any gaps, set a target grade and recommend a plan, with no obligation.