Coombe Boys' School
94%
Capacity
1,030
Pupils
3.2x
Demand
About Coombe Boys' School
Parents considering Coombe Boys' School will find a school that is clearly in demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 623 applications for 194 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.21. Of those, 135 families put it as their first preference, and 124 of those received an offer. That level of competition suggests a strong local reputation. The school is a boys-only state secondary with a co-educational sixth form, and it has a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2023. That inspection noted that leadership and management are Outstanding, which is a significant positive signal for parents. The school serves 1,030 pupils against a capacity of 1,100, so it is running near full. 16.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is a touch above the national average and suggests a genuinely comprehensive intake.
Academically, Coombe Boys' School performs well above the national average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.36 is classified as 'Above average', meaning pupils typically achieve nearly half a grade more per subject than similar students nationally. This is particularly strong in maths, where the Progress 8 score is 0.66, and in the EBacc subjects, where it is 0.49. The Attainment 8 score is 53.3, and 79% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. However, in the local context of Kingston upon Thames, the LA average Progress 8 score is 0.66, so the school sits below that very high bar, ranking 7th out of 10 schools in the borough. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the value-added score is -0.62, which is 'Well below average', and the average points per entry grade is an E+. Only 12 pupils took A-levels in the reported year, so the sixth form is small and may suit a specific cohort.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sports hall, tennis courts, science labs, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision is broad, with football, rugby, cricket, basketball, and hockey among the options, plus clubs like the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, and coding. The SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and a resourced provision. This suggests the school is equipped to support a wide range of needs. For families, the key trade-off is clear: a strong, oversubscribed boys' school with excellent GCSE outcomes and an Outstanding leadership team, but a small sixth form with weaker A-level results. It will suit families prioritising a structured, high-performing secondary phase, particularly those whose sons are strong in maths and the EBacc subjects.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | College Gardens, Blakes Lane, New Malden, Kingston upon Thames, KT3 6NU |
| Headteacher | David Smith |
| Local Authority | Kingston upon Thames |
| Number of Pupils | 1,030 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,030 / 1,100 (94% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (13 Sept 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 10 Jan 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.36)
724th of 3,141
Nationally
220th of 487
In London
7th of 10
In Kingston upon Thames
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
'21/22
18.8
'22/23
18.3
'23/24
12.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2357%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 54 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
0%
Russell Group
0%
Top-third HE
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)57%
- Employment20%
- Not sustained7%
- Further education4%
- Apprenticeship2%
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.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed194
623
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
135 families put this school as their 1st choice (22% 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.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British38.5%
- Asian22.5%
- Mixed12.6%
- White (other)10.2%
- Black0.7%
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.
10
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
7
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 Coombe Boys' School
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
College Gardens, Blakes Lane, New Malden
Kingston upon Thames, KT3 6NU
College Gardens, Blakes Lane, New Malden
Kingston upon Thames, KT3 6NU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Coombe Boys' School!
Write a Review