Chestnut Grove Academy
107%
Capacity
1,321
Pupils
7.1x
Demand
About Chestnut Grove Academy
Chestnut Grove Academy is a mixed secondary school in Wandsworth that is significantly oversubscribed, with 1,456 applications for 206 places in the 2025/26 admissions round — a ratio of just over seven applicants per place. Of those, 264 families put it as their first preference, and 126 first-preference offers were made. The school currently holds 1,321 pupils against a capacity of 1,240, meaning it is operating above its official limit. Its proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 27.2%, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools and reflects a genuinely comprehensive intake. The school has no religious character and serves a wide cross-section of the local community. Its popularity is clear from the numbers, and the oversubscription suggests that families in Wandsworth see it as a strong option within the local state system.
Academically, Chestnut Grove performs well above the national average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.42 is classed as 'Above average', meaning pupils typically achieve nearly half a grade more per subject than similar pupils nationally. This places the school 6th out of 11 secondary schools in Wandsworth, though the local authority average Progress 8 is 0.55, so it sits slightly below the LA mean. Attainment 8 stands at 57, and 82% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 65.7% reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 5.36, and 73.3% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. In its most recent graded inspection in 2019, the school was rated Good overall, with Outstanding for leadership and management and for sixth-form provision. An ungraded inspection in 2024 confirmed the school 'remains Good (Improving)'.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. Sports provision is broad, with rowing, martial arts, rugby, and netball among the options, and clubs include coding, Young Enterprise, eco club, and film club. The sixth form is officially part of the school, with 135 pupils in the most recent data, achieving a best three A-level grade of B- and an average points per entry of 34.86, graded at C+. SEND provision covers a wide spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia. For families seeking a large, popular, and genuinely comprehensive secondary with strong academic outcomes and a broad extracurricular offer, Chestnut Grove is a compelling choice — though securing a place is highly competitive.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Chestnut Grove, 45 Chestnut Grove, London, Wandsworth, SW12 8JZ |
| Headteacher | C Kingsley |
| Local Authority | Wandsworth |
| Number of Pupils | 1,321 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,321 / 1,240 (107% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (13 Mar 2024): School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 4 Mar 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.42)
624th of 3,141
Nationally
200th of 487
In London
6th of 11
In Wandsworth
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
36.8
'22/23
34.0
'23/24
34.9
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2388%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 163 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)88%
- FE college6%
- Not sustained2%
- Sixth form college1%
- Employment1%
96% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2346%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 99 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
26%
Russell Group
28%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)46%
- Employment26%
- Not sustained11%
- Further education6%
- Apprenticeship3%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- English Literature30
- Mathematics29
- History28
- Religious Studies23
- Sociology22
- Film Studies21
- Psychology21
- Geography18
- Art and Design (Fine Art)15
- Computer Studies / Computing13
- Economics13
- Biology10
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed206
1,456
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
264 families put this school as their 1st choice (18% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British31.6%
- Mixed22.0%
- White (other)18.6%
- Asian9.6%
- Black1.6%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
23
Total schools
17
Oversubscribed
15
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chestnut Grove Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Chestnut Grove, 45 Chestnut Grove, London
Wandsworth, SW12 8JZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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