Coombe Girls' School
About Coombe Girls' School
Coombe Girls' School is a large secondary school in Kingston upon Thames, running close to its capacity of 1,558 pupils with 1,538 on roll. The school serves a diverse intake: 21.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is notably higher than the national average for state-funded secondary schools. Demand for places is extremely high — for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 865 applications for 253 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.42. Of those, 187 were first-preference applications, and only 167 first-preference offers were made, meaning even families who put Coombe first face significant competition. The school is non-denominational and girls-only from ages 11 to 18, with a dedicated sixth form. Headteacher Emily Barns leads a school that has clearly become a popular choice in the borough, and the numbers suggest it is drawing families from across Kingston and beyond.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 May 2024Source: Ofsted, 14 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Source: coombegirlsschool.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Coombe Girls' 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications