Education watchdog Ofsted has scrapped single-word ratings - but many secondary schools that have benefitted from its top 'outstanding' grade.
On September 1, applications to secondary schools in Camden, Barnet, Haringey and Westminster opened to those looking to secure a place at their school of choice for the 2025 academic year.
The application window closes on October 31, with offers being made nationally on March 1, 2025.
The Department for Education (DfE) revealed on Monday (September 2) that the 'single word judgements' used by Ofsted to rate schools from their inspections will no longer be used.
Schools will now not be rated 'outstanding', 'good', 'requires improvement' or 'inadequate' but will instead be graded according to individual aspects of their performance.
A total of 12 schools on the Ham& High patch were rated 'outstanding'.
Camden
There are five 'outstanding' schools in the north of the borough.
Parliament Hill School, in Highgate Road, regained its top rating in July.
The all girls' school was first rated outstanding in 2010, then three years later inspectors downgraded it to 'good'.
Swiss Cottage School Development & Research Centre, in Avenue Road, was rated 'outstanding' for the sixth time in 2017.
The Royal Free Hospital Children's School, a special school for pupils aged five to 16, in Pond Street, Hampstead, was rated outstanding in November 2019.
Fine Arts College, an independent school in England's Lane, Belsize Park, was inspected in April 2012.
The Academy School, in Rosslyn Hill, Hampstead, is an independent school that was rated outstanding for the third time in November 2023.
Barnet
The Archer Academy, in Eagans Close, East Finchley, was rated outstanding in May 2019.
Queen Elizabeth's School, in Queen's Road, High Barnet, received the highest rating in May 2022, ten years after converting from a boys' grammar school for 11 to 18-year-olds into an academy.
Haringey
There are three 'outstanding' state schools in the west of the borough.
Mixed comprehensive Alexandra Park School, in Bidwell Gardens, Muswell Hill, was rated outstanding in February 2023 and in 2011, a year before its conversion to academy status in 2012.
The Archer Academy, in Eagan's Close, East Finchley, received the highest rating in May 2019.
TreeHouse School, a special school in Woodside Avenue, Muswell Hill, for pupils aged four to 19, received no change to its overall judgement of outstanding in October 2012 when inspectors visited in 2017 and again in 2023.
Westminster
St George's Catholic School, a secondary school in Lanark Road, Maida Vale, was rated outstanding in December 2014, a year after it became an academy.
Paddington Academy, in Marylands Road, Maida Hill, is a secondary school rated outstanding in November 2011 and in March 2023.
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