Forest Hill School

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.

Academically, Forest Hill’s most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2023 rated it Good across every category, including behaviour, leadership, and personal development. This was a clear improvement from its previous inspection in October 2021, when it was judged Requires Improvement overall. At Key Stage 4, the school’s Progress 8 score of 0.3 is above average nationally and well above the Lewisham average of 0.11, meaning pupils typically achieve nearly a third of a grade more per subject than similar students elsewhere. Attainment 8 sits at 50.5, and 75.4 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 39.9 per cent, with 30.6 per cent achieving the full EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the value-added score is -0.21, which is below average, and the average points per entry is 35.18, equivalent to a B- grade. The sixth form is rated Good by Ofsted, and 14.5 per cent of entries achieved grades AAB or higher.

The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, music rooms, and a sixth form centre, alongside clubs such as Debate, Model UN, DofE, and Young Enterprise. Sports provision includes rugby, football, basketball, and martial arts. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists provisions for nine categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The school is a state-funded boys’ secondary with a co-educational sixth form, and it does not have a nursery or boarding option. Given its strong Progress 8 results and high oversubscription, this school will particularly suit families who want a mainstream boys’ school with solid academic momentum and a broad extracurricular offer, especially those living within commuting distance of Lewisham. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Bonus Pastor Catholic College, 3.3 km away, which may be worth considering for families who prioritise that rating.

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