Prendergast Ladywell School
N/A
Capacity
1,276
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Prendergast Ladywell School
Prendergast Ladywell School holds a Good rating from Ofsted, but its academic outcomes tell a more nuanced story. The school’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year is -0.29, which places it in the ‘Below average’ banding nationally. This means that, on average, pupils achieved nearly a third of a grade less per subject than their peers with similar starting points. The school ranks 13th out of 15 secondary schools in Lewisham on this measure, and 2,228th out of 3,141 schools nationally, putting it in the bottom half of the country. Its Attainment 8 score of 41.3 is modest, and only 35.1% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics95 measure). The picture is slightly better for the EBacc: 55.4% of pupils entered the suite of academic subjects, and 23.2% achieved a strong pass (grade 5 or above) in all components.
Digging deeper into the Progress 8 breakdown, the school’s weakest area is the ‘Open’ element (which includes arts, technology and other subjects), where the score is -0.72. Performance in English and maths is also below average, at -0.21 and -0.38 respectively. However, the EBacc element is a bright spot: a Progress 8 score of +0.09, which is slightly above average. This suggests that pupils taking the full EBacc suite perform in line with or a little ahead of expectations. Compared with the Lewisham local authority average Progress 8 score of +0.11, Prendergast Ladywell is clearly below the local norm. Its closest high-performing peer, Prendergast School (1.1 km away), has a Progress 8 score of +0.57 and an Outstanding Ofsted rating, offering a stark contrast for families weighing up options within the same trust.
The school is a mixed, non-religious secondary for ages 4-16, with 1,276 pupils on roll. Facilities are strong for a state school, including a swimming pool, gymnasium, sports hall, astro turf, science labs, ICT suites, art studios and a library. There is also a sixth form centre, though the school’s age range only goes to 16, so this may serve a separate post-16 provision. Clubs range from book club and drama to coding and gardening, and sports include rugby, tennis, cricket and dance. For families considering SEND support, the data does not specify a dedicated resource base or specialist unit, so it is worth contacting the school directly about its SEN provision. The school is oversubscribed in the sense that it ranks 12th out of 15 in the borough, but without admissions data it is hard to gauge true demand. This is a school that suits families who value broad facilities and a wide range of extracurriculars, but who are realistic about academic outcomes that sit below the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Manwood Road, Lewisham, Lewisham, SE4 1SA |
| Headteacher | Niall Hand |
| Local Authority | Lewisham |
| Number of Pupils | 1,276 |
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.29)
2228th of 3,141
Nationally
426th of 487
In London
13th of 15
In Lewisham
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.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Attendance & Behaviour
2022/2375% 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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
18
Total schools
13
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 Prendergast Ladywell 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
School Open Days Calendar 2026/27
When open days happen and what to look for
Contact Information
Manwood Road, Lewisham
Lewisham, SE4 1SA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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