Drayton Manor High School

Since 2020, Lisa Mills. She started her teaching career at Drayton Manor having read French and German at York, then a stint teaching in Japan. Worked her way through the ranks, holding positions including head of sixth form and member of the senior leadership team. Spent time as deputy head in another inner London school while studying for a master’s degree in educational leadership at UCL before being appointed to take the reins here.

Non-selective. Successful court case means that children gain a place at Drayton Manor if it is the nearest school to their home. If you live a mile from the school but it remains the nearest school to home, then you will have priority over children who live half a mile away but have other schools from which to choose. School explains, ‘Roughly speaking unless you live 0.8 miles away or less, you won’t get a place.’ Massively oversubscribed, with roughly six applicants per place. Waiting list for all years. Generally, a grade 6 or 7 is needed at GCSE to pursue the subject in the sixth form, whether existing pupil or from outside. Fifty or more pupils join in year 12, to replace those who leave after GCSEs (they usually head for vocational courses elsewhere or employment).

Just over half leave after GCSEs. Popular universities include City, Westminster, Queen Mary, Kingston, Royal Holloway, Reading, SOAS, Surrey and King’s College London. Plus Birmingham, Exeter, Leeds, Kent, Liverpool, Manchester, LSE, Coventry, Warwick and Nottingham. Subjects range from international politics to mechanical engineering. Interview practice for those applying to Oxbridge or for medicine, as well as shared careers workshops at Highgate School. Oxbridge society prepares pupils for applications, including test practice. School says pupils don’t always know what they are capable of so encourages those who would never have considered university to believe that they can achieve it - ‘This is a seven-year programme. You can’t just turn it on in year 12. Students need to learn how to crack the code. They need to learn not to be intimidated by institutions.’ Three to Oxbridge in 2023, and four medics.

In 2023, 30 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 81 per cent 9-4 in both English and maths. At A level, 29 per cent A*/A (56 per cent A*-B). In 2019 (the last pre-pandemic results), 30 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 59 per cent 9-5 in both English and maths. At A level, 15 per cent A*/A at A level (36 per cent A*-B).

Has received awards for exceptional GCSE results and letter of congratulation on EBacc results received from minister of state for school standards.

Thirty subjects offered at A level, including media studies, sociology and psychology. Popular A levels currently maths, biology, chemistry and history. Government and politics, as well as history, recognised nationally as superb departments. BTEC qualification also offered in creative media and applied general qualifications in business. Wide choice of GCSE subjects including computing and economics.

Pupils can take between five and 12 GCSEs. Modern languages offered include Spanish, French and German, though no Mandarin nor Russian. One parent we spoke to wished that her daughter could have taken two modern languages at GCSE but not possible. On average, 35 pupils learn Latin in first year with around 20 pupils taking it for GCSE in year 10. ‘The students love it; the parents love it and it adds something to the character of the school. It attracts good, interesting staff and it adds an extra dimension,’ says school.

Average class size is 23, maximum 31. Five one-hour lessons a day. School recognises the benefits of setting by ability - English and maths from year 7 and science, French and Spanish from year 8. School told us, ‘Differentiation is a strength – all our pupils are pushed, whether very able academically or not.’ Awarded ‘outstanding’ in last Ofsted inspection.

EPQ is embraced here, with a broad range of subjects chosen by pupils ranging from bovine TB to Jane Austen. About one third of the year end up taking it. School encourages the pupils to take it on if manageable: ‘It’s a conversation we have with the student and family.’ Pupils were highly focused in the lessons we observed, whether being tested on GCSE biology modules or role-playing gritty scenarios in drama group. School delights in the fact that ‘they enjoy being challenged. They can listen for long periods of time. They can express their opinions with confidence.’

School stretches the very brightest sparks. Gifted and talented pupils might be given extra lessons or be sent off on a trip. One mother we spoke to commented that her clever son ‘was very well supported and extended throughout’.

Homework club in library for those who struggle to concentrate at home. The pupils we spoke to did not find amount of homework too onerous, with one even shyly confessing that she enjoys it. Booster revision sessions laid on for A level and GCSE pupils after school, in holidays and at weekends, so no-one is left to flounder in exam season.

Teachers are ambitious for their pupils and are rated highly by the parents. ‘You really feel at parents’ evenings that the teachers know your child inside out.’ Pupils feel most teachers are ‘easy to talk to’. Over 20 members of staff have been at school for more than a decade but there is a healthy balance with plenty of youthful faces too. School admits that recruitment of excellent staff ‘can be challenging with teacher shortages’ and it can be hard when a head of a faculty leaves but ‘we are like a gyroscope. It takes a lot to knock us off our stride.’

Over 300 pupils on the SEND register, well above the national average. School offers excellent provision for those with milder end of learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and autism and those with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Staff are trained to deal with attachment and anxiety disorders as well as school phobias. Baseline assessment on arrival. Beautifully designed new inclusion centre. ‘Probably the best facilities in the school for the students who need the most support,’ explains school. ‘They all arrive early as they love coming to this area.’ Alternative curriculum in phonics, literacy and numeracy offered to those that need specialist support in the first few years. EAL pupils also withdrawn from class for extra help if needed.

The arts faculty is made up of art and design, drama, music and media subjects. Numerous choirs. Concerts galore, both formal and informal. Lots of opportunities to take part in musical events, from participating in national orchestra days to hearing musicians at the Albert Hall. Currently 150 students learn an instrument. Music department has undergone recent refurbishment. Excellent new art, design and technology studios too. Though some impressive work on show, including sensational portfolios, art is not a popular A level. School takes part in Shakespeare Schools Festival. Annual summer showcase is highlight of school year. ‘The shows are sensational,’ according to one parent.

Sixth form enrichment options include chess, debating and trampoline sessions. Pupils participate in National Citizen Service and fundraisers for children’s charities. School promotes learning outside the classroom including ski and snowboard trips to Maine, homestay visits in Germany and France, and trips to Belgium.

Wide array of sport offered from cricket to gymnastics and dance. Some pupils perform at national level as well as county level. School is regular winner of cups and tournaments across borough and new display cabinets are being built to house the abundant silverware. Netball, rugby and football particularly impressive. Excellent facilities. Everyone is encouraged to participate at some level, whether house dodgeball or more giddy heights.

Each year comprises 240 pupils, organised into nine tutor groups. Each pupil sees their tutor every day. ‘I love my tutor,’ smiled one boy. When head meets with heads of year, she expects to be told the key things that are going on in each year group. Has finger on the pulse, as have her deputies, we were told.

Discipline is important. Schools keeps rules to a minimum but expects them to be obeyed. Only sixth formers are allowed mobile phones and punishments for others in possession of them are no-nonsense. Third time caught with a mobile phone counts as defiance and can be met with an exclusion. ‘Even for sixth formers, if they are caught doing anything iffy then the sanctions kick in. They respect that,’ explains school. Strong policies in place regarding social media. ‘Our values are clear on social media – it all comes down to good manners.’ At risk of permanent exclusion for possession of drugs and offensive weapons. Four or five permanent exclusions annually. One mother summed it up: ‘The kids respond to the discipline. There is not much wriggle room!’ Another parent said, ‘The children know where they stand. They know the consequences for bad behaviour and the school carries through with these. No idle threats at Drayton.’ One mother commented that some boys mess around in class but that generally there is zero tolerance of larking about. School thinks it can be a relief for the pupils to have to comply with strict rules: ‘They can blame us. It allows them to perform at a high level.’ Over 95 per cent attendance rate.

A caring ethos is at the heart of the school. ‘We insist on high standards. Being courteous and considerate comes before academic prowess. How we treat other people is the number one priority. That is our bedrock. It’s the Drayton Manor way.’ This sense of decency is expected not only in the classroom but between lessons, at break time and even at the bus stop. ‘The whole continuum from home to school is important for us. It does not end at 3.30pm. They need to learn that this is their life now.’

School recognises that it can be hard being a teenager. ‘It’s important they know there is more to life than just being popular. The children feel safe here and can develop their own personalities. They can express themselves without being made fun of.’ The pupils in turn say they can trust the staff and feel that if they tell the teachers about any problems, they will make it better. ‘Pastoral care is not just about having the structures in place but trying to work out what it feels like to be one of the students. We think a lot about it,’ says school. One girl said the school had supported her incredibly well through a bereavement and a mother expressed her gratitude for the way Drayton had built up her daughter’s shaky confidence. Very few suffer with depression, anorexia or self-harming.

Ninety-five per cent of food is home-made, including breakfast for early birds from 8am. Chef worked in a Michelin-star restaurant and certainly wowed us with delectable pastries. Lots of options, including halal, gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian, though one pupil told us ‘it would be easy to get away with just eating a cookie every day for lunch as no-one checks’.

Socially mixed intake, from affluent professional families to the very deprived. Pupils head in from north and west Ealing and Hanwell. One third white British with many different ethnic minority groups. Sixty-five per cent EAL and over 50 different languages spoken at home. Parenting support classes offered. Above average number of pupils on free school meals.

Excellent home–school communication. Head genuinely likes meeting people and enjoys being around at events such as parents’ evenings.