School Chooser

London Design and Engineering UTC

Secondary · ages 14-19MixedUniversity technical college854 pupilsSixth formLondonNewham
School Chooser Score
72
Above
similar schools
Likely range 63 to 79
Out of 100. Better than 76% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedExceptional teachingOfsted report card, November 2025
Strong pass in English and maths54%England 46%
Attendance92.8%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families53%Far more than most schools
Parents would recommend90%48 Parent View responses
PlacesFull854 pupils, 600 places

London Design and Engineering UTC is an university technical college in London for boys and girls aged 14 to 19. It has 854 pupils, 254 more than it has places for. About 53 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 72 out of 100. That puts it above schools like it, ahead of 76% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in November 2025 and gave it a report card, which is below.

15 University Way, Royal Docks, London, E16 2RD020 3019 7333ldeutc.co.ukMr Geoffrey Fowler headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted visited on 18 November 2025. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.

TeachingOfsted calls this “curriculum and teaching”
Exceptional
Achievement
Strong
Behaviour and attendanceOfsted calls this “attendance and behaviour”
Exceptional
Support for every childOfsted calls this “inclusion”
Exceptional
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development and wellbeing”
Exceptional
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and governance”
Exceptional
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Strong
SafeguardingAre pupils kept safe?
Pupils are kept safe
Met
Ofsted's scale:ExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement

Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.

Earlier inspections (1)
DateTypeOutcome
15 March 2022Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1Good

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

99 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score49.5
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths54%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths69%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.38In each subject, pupils here finished about half a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 43.043.020182019: 44.344.320192022: 49.549.520222023: 46.546.520232024: 43.543.520242025: 49.549.52025
Since 2018: +6.5Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018NewhamEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11999991788152
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 849.543.546.549.544.343.050.246.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.38-0.33-0.27-0.45-0.48
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths54%46%51%54%37%35%52%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths69%66%76%68%62%52%70%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score3.883.383.714.093.523.644.514.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry3%4%9%3%4%15%53%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged47.438.640.240.242.138.4
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged51.947.752.457.546.951.6
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers25.725.826.928.6
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers59.060.264.952.352.2

Subjects

Results came out for 12 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Combined Science51%grades 9 to 5, England 36% · 534th of 3,084 schools
Mathematics64%grades 9 to 5, England 53% · 723rd of 3,211 schools

Subjects that did worse than the England average: History (9% here, 52% across England), Art and Design (36% here, 58% across England), Computer Science (43% here, 56% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science, computer science.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics99 entries · 7th of 20 in Newham
64%England 53%
English Language99 entries · 11th of 20 in Newham
57%England 54%
English Literature98 entries · 18th of 20 in Newham
55%England 58%
Combined Science69 entries · 5th of 20 in Newham
51%England 36%
Computer Science51 entries · 17th of 18 in Newham
43%England 56%
Art and Design33 entries · 12th of 16 in Newham
36%England 58%
Chemistry29 entries · 12th of 16 in Newham
93%England 81%
Biology29 entries · 14th of 16 in Newham
90%England 82%
Physics29 entries · 12th of 16 in Newham
93%England 82%
History23 entries · 20th of 20 in Newham
9%England 52%
Geography20 entries · 15th of 19 in Newham
45%England 51%
57%England 50%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics9924%64%76%53%723 of 3,211
English Language9928%57%74%54%1,226 of 3,210
English Literature9834%55%75%58%1,633 of 3,202
Combined Science6917%51%64%36%534 of 3,084
Computer Science5122%43%49%56%1,269 of 1,861
Art and Design3318%36%55%58%2,354 of 2,818
Chemistry2972%93%97%81%908 of 2,537
Biology2955%90%97%82%1,141 of 2,570
Physics2962%93%97%82%912 of 2,546
History230%9%26%52%3,116 of 3,126
Geography2010%45%55%51%1,748 of 3,116
Design & Technology140%57%79%50%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

268 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC+31.8 points per entry
A level progress-0.27Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better16%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished94%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students268261219192231200
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry31.7530.9225.8433.0916.1610.55
Average A level gradeC+CC-C+D-E
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS32.4431.8223.9631.2015.1711.57
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects16%9%0%16%0%0%
A level progressA level value added-0.27-0.28-0.85-1.13
Applied general courses: points per entry26.5826.4725.1924.49
T levels: points per entry34.1931.0529.5033.70
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed94%90%96%100%82%100%

A level subjects

9 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

Strongest A levels

Mathematics73%A* to B, England 60% · 48 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsMathematics48Physics36Graphics22Computer Science22Chemistry19Design and Technology (Product Design)19Biology15Fine Art12Psychology10
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Mathematics48 entries · 35% A* or A · 98% passed
73%England 60%
Physics36 entries · 11% A* or A · 94% passed
39%England 51%
Graphics22 entries · 27% A* or A · 86% passed
41%England 65%
Computer Science22 entries · 5% A* or A · 91% passed
32%England 46%
Chemistry19 entries · 16% A* or A · 84% passed
37%England 53%
Design and Technology (Product Design)19 entries · 5% A* or A · 95% passed
21%England 38%
Biology15 entries · 13% A* or A · 87% passed
20%England 49%
Fine Art12 entries · 25% A* or A · 100% passed
33%England 65%
Psychology10 entries · 10% A* or A · 90% passed
40%England 46%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. Every gap at this school is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
47.451.9
Gap 4.5England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
48%60%
Gap 12 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
50.148.5
Gap 1.6England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published.

Full788 pupils for 600 places, 2024/25
131% full

The school is full, with 188 more pupils than it has places for. More families apply than can get in, so things like how close you live and whether an older brother or sister is already here decide who gets a place. Pupil numbers have grown by 24% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Newham council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

What parents say

Would recommend the school90%England 77%
My child is happy here86%agree or strongly agree
My child feels safe100%
Positive overall84%
My child is happy at this school
86%England 75%
My child feels safe at this school
100%England 79%
Pupils are well behavedThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
96%England 71%
Has your child been bullied here?Parents answering yes
10% yesEngland 26%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOnly parents whose child was bullied
80%England 48%
My child gets the right support to learn well
77%England 71%
Does your child have SEND?Parents answering yes
40% yesEngland 31%
The school gives them the support they needOnly parents of children with SEND
79%England 58%
The school communicates well with me
88%England 71%
My concerns have been dealt with properlyWhen I have raised concerns
71%England 58%
Decisions put the child's best interests first
88%England 67%
I would recommend this school
90%England 77%
Overall view of the school is positive
84%England 67%
Strongly agreeAgreeDon't knowDisagreeStrongly disagreeEngland, agree or yes

From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 48 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for secondary schools with enough answers to publish.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll854Census January 2026
Places600142% full
Pupils from low-income families45%53% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English57%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support8%72 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%29 pupils with a plan
Average class size21.231 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils0%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)54%£177,100 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls550 / 304
White British pupils12%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (37), emotional and mental health (24), Specific learning difficulty (15), Moderate learning difficulty (9), Hearing impairment (6), Other difficulty or disability (4).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll854792763730646574
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals45%36%31%33%31%28%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language57%59%58%54%36%45%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support9%7%5%7%7%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans2%1%1%2%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 92.8% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance92.8%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school23.2%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils3.82024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission2.5%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence7.2%8.1%9.4%8.7%4.3%6.7%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.7%4.6%4.4%5.0%2.5%4.5%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence2.5%3.5%5.0%3.7%1.8%2.2%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence23.2%24.1%27.5%28.5%10.3%18.0%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate3.83.42.61.62.8
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 91 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training96%and stayed there for at least six months
Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training96%97%90%96%
Education89%94%89%96%
Apprenticeship3%3%1%0%
Work3%1%0%0%
Not in education, work or training0%1%3%3%

After sixth form

Where the 192 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training73%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 69%, compared with 75% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training67%England 72%
Top-third universities12%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship9%England 6%
Higher technical course0%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 60% went on to degree-level study or training and 7% to a top-third university.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training73%81%85%
Education44%48%63%
Apprenticeship9%13%6%4%
Work20%20%17%
Not in education, work or training18%13%10%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers58.7full-time equivalent, 66 people
Pupils per teacher14.5Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers71%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants5.2full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£56,487
Teachers who left in the year16%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher3.32024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£10,350England £7,965. Total £8.2m
Income per pupil£9,473England £8,423. Total £7.5m
Spent on teachers per pupil£5,264England £4,444
Money in reserve4%Not much put by: £296k, £374 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out-£694kit spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£10,350spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m48112 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate137 per 1,000 people51% higher than the England average
Typical house price£450,000Newham
Nearest bus stop140 mDevalls Close, 20 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Kingsford Community SchoolCouncil0.6 miles1,437Good 202260Compare
Saint Mary Magdalene Church of England All Through SchoolChurch of England1.2 miles1,624Good 202345Compare
Royal Docks AcademyAcademy1.4 miles849Report card 202615Compare
Royal Greenwich Trust SchoolFree school1.4 miles871Good 202219Compare
Brampton Manor AcademyAcademy1.5 miles2,987Outstanding 202490Compare
Cumberland Community SchoolAcademy1.6 miles1,308Good 202289Compare
Langdon AcademyAcademy1.7 miles2,026Not inspected83Compare
Oasis Academy SilvertownFree school1.7 miles512Good 202224Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares London Design and Engineering UTC with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats76%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the top quarter of its group. Its score of 72 is 29 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 1 · middle 43 · highest 97100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 50 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than London Design and Engineering UTC, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Forest Gate Community SchoolAcademy3.4 miles1,343Outstanding 202197Compare
Oasis Academy South BankFree school7.7 miles691Outstanding 202495Compare
Harris Academy BatterseaAcademy10.0 miles890Outstanding 202384Compare
Ark King Solomon AcademyAcademy10.2 miles1,319Outstanding 202391Compare
The Compton SchoolAcademy12.1 miles1,381Outstanding 202492Compare
Ark Pioneer AcademyFree school14.7 miles1,107Outstanding 202389Compare
Ark Soane AcademyFree school14.8 miles874Outstanding 202483Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 72 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 72% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 63 to 79. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%in line
-0.01
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 99 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%well above
+0.33
Ofsted report card, 0.8 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.08
DfE progress measure; 99 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
+0.02
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
+0.03
2024/25; 306 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
+0.02
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 99 pupils
What pupils do next5%above
+0.02
91 pupils
What parents say5%above
+0.03
Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 48 responses

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is London Design and Engineering UTC a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. London Design and Engineering UTC scores 72 out of 100. That is above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 76% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 63 to 79, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is London Design and Engineering UTC's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 18 November 2025 it rated teaching as exceptional, achievement as strong, behaviour and attendance as exceptional, leadership as exceptional.

How good are London Design and Engineering UTC's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 54% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 49.5, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished about half a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does London Design and Engineering UTC have?

854 pupils aged 14 to 19 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 600 places, so it is 142% full.

Is London Design and Engineering UTC oversubscribed?

Probably. The school was full in 2024/25, with 188 more pupils than places. How close you live, and the school's other admissions rules, decide who gets in.

What is attendance like at London Design and Engineering UTC?

Pupils were in school 92.8% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 23% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

What do parents say about London Design and Engineering UTC?

90% of the 48 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 86% say their child is happy there. Across England, 77% of parents would recommend their child's school.

How big are the classes at London Design and Engineering UTC?

The average class had 21.2 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. No class had more than 30 pupils.

Does London Design and Engineering UTC have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was C+. 9 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
15 University Way, Royal Docks, London, E16 2RD
Telephone
020 3019 7333
Website
www.ldeutc.co.uk
Headteacher
Mr Geoffrey Fowler
Type of school
University technical college (University technical college, free schools)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 14-19, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Single-academy trust
London Design & Engineering UTC (1 schools)
Local authority
Newham
Ward
Royal Albert
Constituency
West Ham and Beckton
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
5 September 2016
URN
142903 · LAESTAB 3164009 · UKPRN 10057010

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from