Walthamstow School for Girls
99%
Capacity
890
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About Walthamstow School for Girls
Walthamstow School for Girls is a girls' secondary school in Waltham Forest, London, for pupils aged 11 to 16. With 890 pupils on roll against a capacity of 900, it is effectively full, and the demand for places is intense. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 519 applications for 173 places, an oversubscription ratio of exactly three applicants per place. Of those, 218 were first-preference applications, and 165 first-preference offers were made, indicating that even families who rank the school top of their list face competition. The school serves a diverse intake: 24.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average for secondary schools and reflects the local community it draws from. The school has no sixth form, so pupils leave after Year 11, and it is not a boarding school. It has no religious character.
Academically, the school is a strong performer. In the 2023/24 exam cycle, its Progress 8 score was 0.43, which is well above the local authority average of -0.07 and places it fourth out of 19 schools in Waltham Forest. The school ranks in the top 25% nationally on this measure. Attainment 8 stood at 56, and 83.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, dropping to 66.5% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score was 4.95, with 42.5% of pupils entering the EBacc combination and 33.5% achieving it at grade 4 or above. Progress in English was notably strong at 0.63, while maths progress was more modest at 0.07. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in December 2024, confirmed that it continues to maintain its Outstanding rating, with leadership and management also judged Outstanding.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including music rooms, art studios, an astro turf, tennis courts, playing fields, and an ICT suite. Sports on offer include netball, football, swimming, gymnastics, and dance, while clubs range from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Model UN to gardening and chess. SEND provision covers eight categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. In the Parent View survey covering September 2024 to September 2025, 92% of the 132 respondents would recommend the school. Strong majorities agreed that their child is happy (88% strongly agree or agree), feels safe (92%), and that the school has high expectations (95%). This is a school that suits families looking for a high-performing, oversubscribed girls' school with strong academic outcomes and a broad extracurricular offer, but without a sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Church Hill, London, Waltham Forest, E17 9RZ |
| Headteacher | Helen Marriott |
| Local Authority | Waltham Forest |
| Number of Pupils | 890 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.4% |
| School Capacity | 890 / 900 (99% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 Dec 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (4 Dec 2024): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 20 Jul 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.43)
604th of 3,141
Nationally
194th of 487
In London
4th of 19
In Waltham Forest
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.
Ofsted Parent View
132 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities 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
519
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
218 families put this school as their 1st choice (42% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- Asian33.1%
- White British21.6%
- White (other)16.1%
- Mixed13.7%
- Black3.7%
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.
27
Total schools
20
Oversubscribed
17
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 Walthamstow School for Girls
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
Church Hill, London
Waltham Forest, E17 9RZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Walthamstow School for Girls!
Write a Review