Trinity Church of England School, Belvedere

About Trinity Church of England School, Belvedere

Trinity Church of England School in Belvedere is a mixed secondary that currently holds 1,051 pupils, well above its official capacity of 900, which tells you this is a school in genuine demand. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 33.3%, significantly higher than the national average of around 23%, reflecting a more disadvantaged intake than many schools in Bexley. The oversubscription picture backs that up: for the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 396 applications for 166 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.39, with 132 first-preference offers made. That level of competition suggests local families see it as a viable option despite its challenges. The school is Church of England, which may influence its ethos, though the data doesn't specify how that plays out day-to-day. With a sixth form on site, it caters for the full 11–18 age range, and its headteacher is John Willoughby.

Academically, the picture is mixed. At Key Stage 4, the school's Progress 8 score is -0.54, which is well below average and places it 14th out of 16 secondary schools in Bexley. The local authority average Progress 8 is 0.03, so Trinity's pupils make significantly less progress than peers across the borough. Attainment 8 sits at 39.3, and the basics measure (grade 5 or above in English and maths) is 38.6%, compared with 58.5% at grade 4 or above. The EBacc entry rate is high at 60.8%, but only 10.8% of pupils achieve the EBacc at grade 5 or above. At A-level, the picture is more encouraging: the value-added score is 0.04, classed as average, and the average points per entry is 28.35, equivalent to a C grade. The best three A-levels average a C as well. The sixth form is rated Good by Ofsted, and the school's overall effectiveness was upgraded from Requires Improvement in 2013 to Good in its 2016 graded inspection, a rating it has held since.

The school offers a decent range of facilities including a library, theatre, music rooms, chapel, tennis courts and a sixth form centre. Sports provision covers netball, football, hockey, rugby, dance and cross country, while clubs include debate, eco club, young enterprise, chess, model UN, drama and art club. SEND support is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication issues, hearing impairment, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder and a resourced provision. For families considering this school, the key trade-off is between its strong local demand and inclusive intake versus below-average progress scores at GCSE. It may suit parents who value a diverse, Church of England community with a good sixth form and broad extracurricular offer, but who are prepared to support their child's academic progress more actively than at higher-performing local grammars.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Trinity Church of England School, Belvedere

Helpful Guides for Parents