Darrick Wood School
92%
Capacity
1,687
Pupils
4.2x
Demand
About Darrick Wood School
Darrick Wood School sits within Bromley, a London borough with 21 state secondary schools, six of which are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. The school itself ranks 13th in the local authority when measured by Progress 8, placing it just outside the top half. Its most immediate Outstanding neighbour is Newstead Wood School, less than a kilometre away, while the top-performing peers in the area include St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School, Newstead Wood School, and Harris Girls Academy Bromley. Darrick Wood is a mixed, non-denominational secondary with a sixth form, and it is significantly oversubscribed: for 237 places in 2025/26, it received 1,006 applications, with 265 first-preference applications and 187 offers made to first-preference families. That oversubscription ratio of 4.24 to one suggests strong local demand, even in a competitive borough.
Academically, Darrick Wood achieves broadly average outcomes. Its Progress 8 score is exactly zero, meaning pupils make progress in line with the national average, though this sits slightly below the Bromley LA average of +0.13. Attainment 8 stands at 50.3, and 78.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 55.9% reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 4.71, and 75.6% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. In the most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in May 2024, the school was rated Good across all categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. At A-level, the school's value-added score is 0.02, again in line with the national average, and the average points per entry is 31.57, equivalent to a grade C. The best three A-levels average out at a C+ grade.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, playing fields, a theatre, and a sixth-form centre. Sports on offer include rowing, gymnastics, rugby, netball, and cricket, while clubs cover everything from Model UN and debating to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Young Enterprise. SEND provision is broad, with support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, and a resourced provision. With 1,687 pupils on a capacity of 1,825, the school is close to full, and 13.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. This is a large, well-subscribed comprehensive that suits families looking for a solid, all-round state education in a high-performing borough, particularly those who value a strong sixth form and a wide extracurricular offer.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Lovibonds Avenue, Orpington, Bromley, BR6 8ER |
| Headteacher | Martin Airey |
| Local Authority | Bromley |
| Number of Pupils | 1,687 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,687 / 1,825 (92% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 2 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.00)
1508th of 3,141
Nationally
356th of 487
In London
12th of 19
In Bromley
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
36.2
'22/23
34.4
'23/24
31.6
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
2022/2355%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 181 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
16%
Russell Group
18%
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)55%
- Employment25%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Not sustained4%
- Further education3%
- Other education2%
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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed237
1,006
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
265 families put this school as their 1st choice (26% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British68.3%
- Mixed9.0%
- Asian7.4%
- White (other)6.0%
- Black0.3%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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.
6
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
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 Darrick Wood 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
Lovibonds Avenue, Orpington
Bromley, BR6 8ER
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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