Frederick Bremer School
98%
Capacity
881
Pupils
4.3x
Demand
About Frederick Bremer School
Frederick Bremer School is a popular choice among local families, with 673 applications for 158 Year 7 places in the 2025/26 admissions round — an oversubscription ratio of 4.26. Of those applicants, 189 put the school as their first preference, and 148 first-preference offers were made. This level of demand suggests a strong reputation among parents in Waltham Forest, though it is worth noting that the school does not have a formal parent-view survey result to back that up. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and currently has 881 pupils on roll against a capacity of 900. It sits in the London borough of Waltham Forest and is led by headteacher Jenny Smith.
Academically, Frederick Bremer was rated Good in its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2015, and an ungraded inspection in June 2024 confirmed the school remains Good. The Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 results was -0.25, which is below the local authority average of -0.07 and places the school in the bottom 50 nationally. Within Waltham Forest, it ranks 14th out of 19 schools on this measure. The Attainment 8 score was 45.9, and 61.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths (the basics 9-4 measure), though only 40.9% reached grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score was 4.04, with 39.2% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. The school’s previous Ofsted rating was Requires Improvement in 2013, so the current Good rating represents a clear step up.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, theatre, music rooms, art studios, astro turf, and playing fields, plus a chapel. Sports on offer include netball, rowing, cricket, swimming, and hockey, while clubs range from film club and debate to coding and Young Enterprise. The school has a strong SEND provision, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder — including a resourced provision. For families considering this school, the high oversubscription ratio means a first-preference application is essential. It will suit parents who want a Good-rated, inclusive community school with solid SEND support, but who are realistic about its below-average Progress 8 compared with the local authority.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Siddeley Road, London, Waltham Forest, E17 4EY |
| Headteacher | Jenny Smith |
| Local Authority | Waltham Forest |
| Number of Pupils | 881 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 30.9% |
| School Capacity | 881 / 900 (98% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Jun 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (5 Jun 2024): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 11 Jan 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.25)
2116th of 3,141
Nationally
413th of 487
In London
14th of 19
In Waltham Forest
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2324%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 157 pupils).
- FE college43%
- Sixth form college25%
- School sixth form (stay)24%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship1%
94% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed158
673
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
189 families put this school as their 1st choice (28% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British29.4%
- White (other)18.4%
- Asian17.0%
- Mixed13.0%
- Black2.7%
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.
75% 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.
24
Total schools
19
Oversubscribed
15
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 Frederick Bremer 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
Siddeley Road, London
Waltham Forest, E17 4EY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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