King Solomon High School
75%
Capacity
872
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About King Solomon High School
King Solomon High School’s Progress 8 score of 0.36 is notably above the national average of zero, meaning pupils here make stronger academic progress than their peers across England. However, when set against the Redbridge local authority average of 0.59, the picture is more nuanced — the school is performing well below the typical secondary in its own borough. This gap is significant: Redbridge is a high-performing area, with five schools rated Outstanding and a local authority average that places it among the strongest in London. King Solomon ranks 12th out of 16 secondaries in Redbridge by Progress 8, putting it in the bottom quarter of local schools. For parents weighing options in this competitive corner of northeast London, the school’s headline metrics suggest solid progress in absolute terms, but a relative struggle to keep pace with the very high standards set by neighbours like Seven Kings School and Valentines High School.
Academically, the school’s 2023/24 results show a mixed picture. At Key Stage 4, the Attainment 8 score of 50.4 translates to an average grade just below a strong pass, and 71% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though this drops to 50.3% for the stronger grade 5 benchmark. Progress in English (0.42) is notably stronger than in maths (0.19), and the EBacc average point score of 4.36 is modest. The sixth form, with 65 students, posts a value-added score of -0.25, which is below average, and the average A-level grade sits at C-. The school’s Progress 8 banding is officially ‘Above average’ nationally, but the sixth form’s progress banding is ‘Below average’. This divergence — strong progress at GCSE but weaker outcomes post-16 — is something to weigh carefully, especially for families considering the full 11-18 journey.
The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, 238 applications were received for 123 places, with 72 first-preference offers made. This demand suggests a loyal local following despite the Requires Improvement Ofsted rating, which the school has held across both its 2021 and 2024 inspections. Facilities are comprehensive, including a theatre, sixth form centre, sports hall, and playing fields, plus a chapel reflecting its Jewish religious character. SEND provision covers a wide range of needs, from dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder and physical disability. With 24.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. King Solomon will suit families who value its inclusive ethos and strong GCSE progress, but who are prepared to navigate a sixth form that currently underperforms relative to the school’s own Key Stage 4 results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Jewish |
| Address | Forest Road, Ilford, Redbridge, IG6 3HB |
| Headteacher | M Phillips |
| Local Authority | Redbridge |
| Number of Pupils | 872 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.3% |
| School Capacity | 872 / 1,160 (75% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
14 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 3 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.36)
733rd of 3,141
Nationally
223rd of 487
In London
12th of 16
In Redbridge
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
34.5
'22/23
28.3
'23/24
27.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2376%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 133 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)76%
- FE college18%
- Not sustained5%
- Sixth form college1%
- Employment1%
95% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2372%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 96 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
22%
Russell Group
20%
Top-third HE
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)72%
- Employment15%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship3%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology52
- Mathematics26
- History16
- Biology14
- Religious Studies14
- Design and Technology (Product Design)13
- Sociology13
- Chemistry11
- Media/Film/Tv Studies10
- Geography9
- Physics6
- English Literature5
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed123
238
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
72 families put this school as their 1st choice (30% 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 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British27.8%
- White (other)27.5%
- Asian25.7%
- Mixed5.9%
- Black1.5%
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.
9
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
7
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 King Solomon High 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
Forest Road, Ilford
Redbridge, IG6 3HB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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