Holland Park School
84%
Capacity
1,200
Pupils
4.7x
Demand
About Holland Park School
Holland Park School’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2022, rated it Inadequate overall, a sharp drop from its previous Outstanding rating in 2014. The inspection found behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management, both Inadequate, while quality of education was Requires improvement. The sixth form, however, was rated Good. Despite this, the school’s academic outcomes tell a more nuanced story. Its Progress 8 score, which measures how much pupils improve between Key Stage 2 and GCSEs compared with the national average, is 0.04 — essentially in line with the average for England. That places it 6th out of 6 schools in Kensington and Chelsea, a high-performing local authority where the average Progress 8 score is 0.4. The school’s Attainment 8 score is 58.7, and 80.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths.
At A-level, the picture is stronger. The school’s value-added score is 0.41, meaning students make more progress than similar pupils nationally, and the progress banding is ‘Well above average’. The average points per entry is 41.31, equivalent to a B grade, and 35% of entries achieved AAB or higher. The best three A-levels average out at a B grade. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 1,176 applications for 253 places, with 362 first-preference applications and 200 first-preference offers — an oversubscription ratio of 4.65. This suggests strong local demand, despite the Ofsted rating.
The school is large, with 1,200 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,430, and 32.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Facilities include a theatre, art studios, music rooms, science labs, a sixth form centre, and extensive sports provision including astro turf, tennis courts, and a sports hall. Clubs range from Debate and Model UN to DofE and Young Enterprise. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication, and Social, Emotional & Mental Health. Parent View responses, from 14 respondents, are overwhelmingly positive: 93% would recommend the school, and 100% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy. This is a school that, despite its regulatory rating, clearly works well for many families — particularly those drawn to its strong sixth form and broad curriculum.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Address | Airlie Gardens, Campden Hill, Kensington and Chelsea, W8 7AF |
| Headteacher | David Hall |
| Local Authority | Kensington and Chelsea |
| Number of Pupils | 1,200 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 32.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,200 / 1,430 (84% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Apr 2022Overall Effectiveness
Inadequate
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 16 Jun 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.04)
1436th of 3,141
Nationally
349th of 487
In London
6th of 6
In Kensington and Chelsea
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)
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Ofsted Parent View
14 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed253
1,176
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
362 families put this school as their 1st choice (31% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White (other)22.8%
- Mixed20.5%
- White British16.0%
- Asian6.7%
- Black1.2%
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
17
Oversubscribed
17
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 Holland Park 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
Airlie Gardens, Campden Hill
Kensington and Chelsea, W8 7AF
Airlie Gardens, Campden Hill
Kensington and Chelsea, W8 7AF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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