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Success in the Classroom

Students who come to the school in Year 7 know that they are entering a place which has high expectations of them. Barking Abbey's examination results, for example are above the national averages for KS3 SATs, GCSE and A Level. The school has received a large number of awards to recognise its high standards of achievement. These include the DfES Achievement Award, the Schools Curriculum Award, the Investors in People Award and the Basic Skills Agency Quality Mark. Barking Abbey has been awarded Beacon School Status by the DfES. We were proud to be selected as one of the first six schools in the county to become a Specialist Sports College. Only high-achieving, academic schools were chosen. We have a Leisure Centre for the use of the school and the community.

Barking Abbey is one of the largest schools in the country, with 1850 students, 500 of these are in the Sixth Form. This means that the school can offer a wide range of opportunities to all its students, both in and beyond the classroom. We are heavily oversubscribed each year, as one of the most popular schools in London, and take students from Barking, Dagenham, Redbridge, Newham and Havering.

Years 7 & 8
All students in Key Stage 3 study a broad range of subjects. Many lessons are taught in mixed-ability classes in Year 7, although an increasing number of subjects introduce setting by ability as students make progress through the Key Stage.

English, mathematics and science are taught as the core subjects, but new subjects are introduced which students may not have met in primary school. These include technology, drama, ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and a modern foreign language.

Years 7 & 8 are taught in the Lower School, which provides a 'transition' between primary and secondary school.

Years 9, 10 & 11
Students in Years 9, 10 and 11 study the core subjects of the national curriculum, but have a wide range of choices, from thirty-five different courses at GCSE.

Students respond very positively to having such a variety of subjects to choose from and take the process of their first major 'career choice' most seriously and maturely.

Students have the opportunity to study at local colleges and training providers in addition to following vocational courses (BTEC) at school.