Leytonstone School
104%
Capacity
1,029
Pupils
3.1x
Demand
About Leytonstone School
Leytonstone School's headline Progress 8 score of -0.17 sits below the Waltham Forest local authority average of -0.07, placing it in the bottom half of the 22 state secondaries in the borough. That gap is modest but worth noting: the school's pupils make slightly less academic progress than peers across the LA, though the score still falls within the 'Average' banding nationally. The picture is more mixed when you look at individual subjects. English is a clear strength, with a Progress 8 score of +0.24, meaning pupils here outperform the national average in that subject. Maths, at -0.22, and the EBacc subjects, at -0.63, drag the overall figure down. The school's Attainment 8 score of 51.2 is solid, and 55.6 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. Only 12.1 per cent entered the EBacc, well below the national trend, and just 8.1 per cent achieved it at grade 5 or above.
In its most recent graded inspection in 2016, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in 2021 confirmed the school remains Good. That marks a clear improvement from the previous inspection in 2014, when it was rated Requires Improvement. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 92 per cent of respondents would recommend the school, and in the Parent View survey covering September 2024 to September 2025, every single parent agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, feels safe, and that the school has high expectations. Behaviour is seen as a strength, with all parents agreeing pupils are well behaved. The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 621 applications for 202 places, with 174 offers going to first-preference applicants out of 195 who put it top.
Leytonstone School is an 11-16 mixed secondary with no sixth form, so families will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere. It has a higher-than-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 25.6 per cent, and the school is above its stated capacity of 990, with 1,029 pupils on roll. Facilities include a theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, science labs and a library, and the extracurricular offering covers football, rugby, rowing, choir, Model UN and Young Enterprise. The school lists a broad range of SEND provisions, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. For families who value strong pastoral care and a school that parents feel keeps them well informed, Leytonstone looks like a solid local option, particularly for those whose children might benefit from the strong English outcomes.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Colworth Road, London, Waltham Forest, E11 1JD |
| Headteacher | Julian Onyelekere |
| Local Authority | Waltham Forest |
| Number of Pupils | 1,029 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 25.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,029 / 990 (104% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Sept 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (29 Sept 2021): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 8 Jul 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.17)
1952nd of 3,141
Nationally
397th of 487
In London
10th 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
2022/2322%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 162 pupils).
- Sixth form college43%
- FE college31%
- School sixth form (stay)22%
- Not sustained2%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Employment1%
98% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
12 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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed202
621
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
195 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
2024/25Better 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%
- Asian20.3%
- White (other)18.5%
- Mixed16.8%
- Black3.0%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half 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.
14
Total schools
13
Oversubscribed
10
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 Leytonstone 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
Colworth Road, London
Waltham Forest, E11 1JD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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