The Elmgreen School
101%
Capacity
1,110
Pupils
4.5x
Demand
About The Elmgreen School
The Elmgreen School is a popular choice for Lambeth families, and the numbers tell a clear story. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 747 applications for 167 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.47, meaning more than four families applied for every spot. Of those, 154 put it as their first preference, and 112 first-preference offers were made. This level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, though the school does not publish a parent satisfaction survey percentage to back that up directly. The school is a mixed, non-religious secondary with a sixth form, and it currently holds a Good rating from Ofsted following its June 2022 inspection. The inspectors rated every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision — as Good, a consistent improvement from the previous 2013 inspection where leadership was rated Outstanding but other areas were not graded.
Academically, the school's results are mixed when compared with the local picture. At GCSE, its Progress 8 score of -0.37 is below the national average and well below the Lambeth local authority average of 0.07. This places the school 14th out of 15 secondary schools in the borough, and in the bottom 50% nationally. The Attainment 8 score sits at 42.5, and 57.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 3.77, and 38.5% of pupils entered the EBacc combination. At A-level, the picture is more encouraging: the school's value-added score is 0.02, which is in line with the national average, and the average points per entry is 27.93, equivalent to a C- grade. The best three A-levels average out at a C grade, and 7% of entries achieved AAB or higher.
The school is well-equipped, with facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a sports hall, art studios, and a dedicated sixth form centre. It offers a wide range of clubs and sports, from rowing and Model UN to gardening and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Its SEND provisions are extensive, covering specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, plus a resourced provision. With 37.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse and disadvantaged intake. It is oversubscribed, so families need to apply early and be aware of the high demand. The Elmgreen School suits families who value a large, inclusive comprehensive with strong pastoral and extracurricular offerings, and who are comfortable with GCSE results that sit below the local average but with a sixth form that adds solid value.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Elmcourt Road, London, Lambeth, SE27 9BZ |
| Headteacher | Dominic Bergin |
| Local Authority | Lambeth |
| Number of Pupils | 1,110 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 37.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,110 / 1,100 (101% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Jun 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Sept 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.37)
2387th of 3,141
Nationally
440th of 487
In London
14th of 15
In Lambeth
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
31.8
'22/23
28.9
'23/24
27.9
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
2022/2355%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 167 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)55%
- FE college27%
- Sixth form college6%
- Not sustained5%
- Employment4%
- Apprenticeship1%
93% 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
2022/2357%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 100 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
17%
Russell Group
23%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)57%
- Employment20%
- Not sustained6%
- Further education5%
- Other education4%
- Apprenticeship1%
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- Sociology33
- Mathematics23
- Media/Film/Tv Studies21
- Psychology20
- Biology17
- English Literature17
- History15
- Computer Studies / Computing13
- Economics13
- Geography13
- French10
- Spanish10
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
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed167
747
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
154 families put this school as their 1st choice (21% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
Source: the-elmgreen-school.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British20.2%
- Mixed20.2%
- White (other)11.4%
- Black3.1%
- Asian2.9%
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.
Half 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.
20
Total schools
14
Oversubscribed
13
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 The Elmgreen 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
Elmcourt Road, London
Lambeth, SE27 9BZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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