Key Points
- Top University Destinations: As reported by Charlotte Anderson of the Romford Recorder, The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls in Hornchurch leads Havering state secondary schools, sending 78.7 per cent of its Year 13 cohort to higher education institutions.
- Overall Outcome Excellence: The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls also achieved the highest overall sustained destination rate in the borough at 97.6 per cent, encompassing higher education, apprenticeships, and employment.
- Apprenticeship Leader: The Campion School ranked first in the borough for vocational pathways, with 20.4 per cent—one in five pupils—progressing into an apprenticeship following their 16 to 18 studies.
- Secondary Standard: St Edward’s Church of England Academy closely followed the top performer, securing second place for both university progression (76.9 per cent) and overall sustained outcomes (96.2 per cent).
- Official Benchmark: Published by the Department for Education (DfE) in April 2026, the performance measures tracking the 2022/23 academic Year 13 cohort require a minimum of six months of continuous participation to qualify as a “sustained destination”.
- Missing Data: Out of the seven secondary schools in the London Borough of Havering providing post-16 education, Harris Rainham Sixth Form was the sole establishment omitted from the DfE statistical dataset.
Havering (East London Times) September 17, 2026 – Official Department for Education (DfE) destination figures have revealed the comprehensive rankings of Havering secondary schools based on the proportion of pupils progressing to higher education institutions, vocational apprenticeships, and direct employment. As reported by Charlotte Anderson of the Romford Recorder, The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls, located in Hornchurch, has emerged as the top-performing post-16 state institution in the borough for university progression. DfE statistics indicate that 78.7 per cent of the school’s Year 13 cohort successfully transitioned into higher education.
Following closely behind The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls in higher education progression is St Edward’s Church of England Academy, which achieved a university destination rate of 76.9 per cent. According to the data highlighted by Charlotte Anderson of the Romford Recorder, the remaining mainstream secondary schools in the borough placed as follows:
- The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls: 78.7 per cent
- St Edward’s Church of England Academy: 76.9 per cent
- The Coopers’ Company and Coborn School: 62.0 per cent
- Drapers’ Academy: 56.6 per cent
- Sacred Heart of Mary Girls’ School: 56.5 per cent
- The Campion School: 50.7 per cent
Which Institutions Lead the Borough in Apprenticeship Pathways and Overall Outcomes?
While university attendance remains a key performance indicator, alternative vocational routes show stark structural variations across the local authority. As reported by Charlotte Anderson of the Romford Recorder, The Campion School secured the top spot in Havering for the highest percentage of young people starting an apprenticeship after completing 16 to 18 studies, with 20.4 per cent—effectively one in five pupils—choosing this route.
The complete breakdown of schools sending pupils into apprenticeships includes:
- The Campion School: 20.4 per cent
- Drapers’ Academy: 12.1 per cent
- The Coopers’ Company and Coborn School: 12.0 per cent
- Sacred Heart of Mary Girls’ School: 11.3 per cent
- The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls: 3.9 per cent
- St Edward’s Church of England Academy: 3.8 per cent
When evaluating overall sustained outcomes—defined as the combined percentage of school leavers moving continuously into higher education, an apprenticeship, or gainful employment—The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls again finished highest in the borough at 97.6 per cent.
The overall sustained destination rankings across the local authority are:
- The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls: 97.6 per cent
- St Edward’s Church of England Academy: 96.2 per cent
- Sacred Heart of Mary Girls’ School: 93.5 per cent
- The Campion School: 90.7 per cent
- Drapers’ Academy: 89.9 per cent
- The Coopers’ Company and Coborn School: 89.7 per cent
How Does the Department for Education Calculate These Destination Statistics?
The government metrics are derived from state-funded mainstream secondary schools and measure student progression following the completion of post-16 study. As outlined by Charlotte Anderson of the Romford Recorder, although the figures represent the most recent release published by the DfE in April 2026, the dataset tracks the Year 13 cohort that finished secondary education during the 2022/23 academic year.
To qualify within the official statistics, young people must satisfy the standard metric of “sustained participation”. This requires a former student to have documented, continuous engagement in higher education, an apprenticeship scheme, or employment for at least a six-month period between October and March of the following academic year.
Only seven state secondary schools within the London Borough of Havering offer post-16 study. As observed by Charlotte Anderson of the Romford Recorder, Harris Rainham Sixth Form was the only post-16 secondary institution in the borough that did not feature in the government’s published figures. The Department for Education is scheduled to release the subsequent dataset, covering the 2024/25 finishing cohort, in October.
Background of Post-16 Performance Tracking
The Department for Education’s destination measures were introduced to provide a broader assessment of school performance beyond standard examination grades, such as A-Levels and BTECs. By tracking whether students maintain six months of continuous education, employment, or training after leaving Year 13, the UK government aims to evaluate how effectively secondary schools prepare young people for post-secondary transitions.
In recent years, local authorities across East London and Essex, including Havering, have seen significant shifts in post-16 options. While traditional university progression was historically viewed as the primary indicator of secondary school success, national policies promoting degree apprenticeships and higher-level vocational qualifications have shifted pupil choices. This systemic change explains why schools such as The Campion School show higher proportions of students moving directly into practical work-based training schemes rather than traditional degree programmes.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Local Stakeholders
The publication of these destination figures is expected to influence several key audiences across the London Borough of Havering:
Prospective Pupils and Parents
Parents and Year 11 pupils selecting post-16 destinations will likely use this data to target specific sixth-forms based on career preferences. Students aiming for academic degrees may lean toward high-performing university feeder institutions such as The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls or St Edward’s Church of England Academy. Conversely, pupils seeking direct entry into corporate or technical sectors are more likely to prefer institutions like The Campion School due to its strong track record in securing apprenticeships.
Secondary School Admissions and Strategy
Secondary school leadership teams across Havering will face increased pressure to align their 16 to 18 curricula with emerging employment trends. Institutions scoring lower on overall sustained outcomes may reallocate career advice resources and strengthen ties with regional employers and university admissions departments to prevent post-18 dropouts.
Local Housing and Demographic Dynamics
Historically, top-ranked state schools exert an upward pressure on local property markets. Families prioritizing long-term educational pipelines may specifically target catchment areas surrounding Hornchurch and Romford, boosting demand for residential properties near top-tier institutions.
