Classpot

Forest Hill School

Lewisham, SE23 2XNSecondaryAges 11–18BoysState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Dec 2023
Progress 8
+0.30
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.7×
Not oversubscribed
119 1st-choice / 171 places
Ranking
#846
of 3,141 nationally

About Forest Hill School

Forest Hill School is a boys’ secondary in the London borough of Lewisham, and it sits fifth out of 15 schools of the same type in the local authority, putting it comfortably in the top third. The three highest-ranked peers in the area are St Matthew Academy, Prendergast School, and Trinity Church of England School, Lewisham, all of which score above it on the same ranking metric. Headteacher Michael Sullivan leads a school that is significantly oversubscribed: for 171 places in the 2025/26 intake, there were 463 applications, with 119 first-preference requests and 106 offers made to those who put it first. That level of demand suggests strong local reputation, even if the school isn’t among the very top performers in the borough. The school has a capacity of 1,535 but currently enrols 1,072 pupils, so there is room to grow, and 27.9 per cent of students are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and reflects the diverse catchment.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderBoys
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressDacres Road, London, Lewisham, SE23 2XN
HeadteacherMichael Sullivan
Local AuthorityLewisham
Number of Pupils1,072
Free School Meals (FSM)27.9%
School Capacity1,072 / 1,535 (70% full)
Sixth FormYes

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 English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

13 Dec 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 1 Feb 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
Playing FieldsICT SuiteArt StudiosMusic RoomsTheatreTennis CourtsSixth Form CentreGymnasiumDining HallLibraryAstro TurfChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

14

Sports

RugbyMartial ArtsAthleticsBasketballFootballGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

Eco ClubNewspaperArt ClubDebateModel United NationsDramaDuke of EdinburghYoung Enterprise

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Forest Hill School

Forest Hill School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.