Classpot

Sydenham School

Lewisham, SE26 4RDSecondaryAges 11–18GirlsState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jun 2022
Progress 8
+0.10
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
228 1st-choice / 231 places
Ranking
#1,297
of 3,141 nationally

About Sydenham School

Sydenham School’s headline Progress 8 score of 0.1 sits just a hair below the Lewisham local authority average of 0.11, placing it squarely in the middle of the pack among the borough’s 15 state secondary schools. That’s a solid, unflashy result — the school ranks 8th in Lewisham, meaning roughly half its peers are ahead and half behind. What’s more revealing is the breakdown: pupils make strong progress in English (0.46) but significantly weaker progress in maths (-0.35), a gap that suggests the school’s strengths are uneven. The Attainment 8 score of 49.7 is respectable, and 66.7% of pupils achieve a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though that drops to 48.1% at the stronger grade 5 threshold. The school is heavily oversubscribed — 684 applications for 231 places in 2025/26, with 228 first-preference applications — so local families clearly see something they like, even if the headline metrics don’t scream top of the table.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderGirls
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressDartmouth Road, London, Lewisham, SE26 4RD
HeadteacherEmma Wijnberg
Local AuthorityLewisham
Number of Pupils1,507
Free School Meals (FSM)26.6%
School Capacity1,507 / 1,580 (95% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

22 Jun 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Outstanding

Latest monitoring visit (22 Jun 2022): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 13 May 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
TheatreAstro TurfSwimming PoolArt StudiosSports HallLibrarySixth Form CentreMusic RoomsScience LabsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

19

Sports

TennisGymnasticsAthleticsRoundersRowingSwimmingRugbyFootballDanceCricket

Clubs & Activities

NewspaperEco ClubOrchestraGardeningCodingDramaDuke of EdinburghChessModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:40 – 15:10

Source: sydenham.lewisham.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sydenham School

Sydenham School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.