Sedgehill Academy
53%
Capacity
900
Pupils
3.6x
Demand
About Sedgehill Academy
Sedgehill Academy in Lewisham is a large secondary school with capacity for 1,711 pupils but currently enrolling 900, meaning it is significantly under capacity. This is striking given the local demand: for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 629 total applications for 173 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.64, and 146 families put it as their first preference, of whom 111 received offers. The school serves a notably disadvantaged intake, with 45.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. This context matters because the school’s performance data should be read against this demographic reality. The school is mixed, non-religious, and has a sixth form, with Clare Cassidy as headteacher. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018.
Academically, Sedgehill delivers solid results for its intake. At Key Stage 4, its Progress 8 score is +0.2, meaning pupils on average achieve about two months more progress than similar students nationally, and it ranks 6th out of 15 schools in Lewisham on this measure. This is above the local authority average Progress 8 of +0.11. Attainment 8 sits at 45.1, and 63.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 40.4% reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 47.1%, and 23.1% achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. Progress is strongest in maths (+0.32) and English (+0.29). At sixth form, the picture is more mixed: with only 16 pupils in the data, the value-added score is -1.05, rated well below average, and the average points per entry equate to a D+. The school’s Progress 8 banding is rated Average nationally, sitting in the 34th percentile.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and a sixth form centre, plus sports from rowing to gymnastics and clubs like Model UN and Eco Club. Its SEND provisions are comprehensive, covering autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, and a resourced provision. For families considering Sedgehill, the key takeaway is that it is a Good-rated school serving a high-needs community, with strong KS4 progress but a small sixth form that needs scrutiny. It is not oversubscribed in capacity terms, so admission is realistic for most applicants, though first-preference demand is high. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Bonus Pastor Catholic College, 1.4 km away, which may be a consideration for some families.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Sedgehill Road, London, Lewisham, SE6 3QW |
| Headteacher | Clare Cassidy |
| Local Authority | Lewisham |
| Number of Pupils | 900 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 45.2% |
| School Capacity | 900 / 1,711 (53% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Sept 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 7 Dec 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.20)
1074th of 3,141
Nationally
287th of 487
In London
6th of 15
In Lewisham
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
'21/22
35.4
'22/23
33.9
'23/24
23.0
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2353%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 58 pupils).
- University (HE)53%
- Employment24%
- Not sustained9%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Further education2%
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.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed173
629
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
146 families put this school as their 1st choice (23% 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 75% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British24.3%
- Mixed18.7%
- White (other)10.6%
- Asian5.7%
- Black5.6%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
13
Total schools
11
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 Sedgehill Academy
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
Sedgehill Road, London
Lewisham, SE6 3QW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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