Wanstead High School

About Wanstead High School

Wanstead High School’s headline Progress 8 score of 0.28 is well above the national average of zero, but it sits noticeably below the Redbridge local authority average of 0.59. That gap places the school 14th out of 20 state secondaries in the borough, and 13th when ranked by the same metric — a position that puts it in the bottom half of a high-performing area. The school’s Progress 8 banding is still rated ‘Above average’ nationally, which reflects the fact that Redbridge is an unusually strong LA for secondary outcomes. What stands out is the unevenness across subjects: English progress is strong at 0.45, maths is solid at 0.3, but the EBacc element is only 0.08 and the open element is 0.34. This suggests the school’s academic strength is concentrated in core English and maths rather than across the full EBacc suite, which may be a factor in its middling LA rank.

At KS4, 65.1% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, and the average Attainment 8 score is 54.9 — both respectable figures. The EBacc entry rate is 34.5%, with 26.4% achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 and above. In the sixth form, the picture is more mixed: the value added score is exactly zero, meaning students make exactly the progress expected nationally, and the average points per entry is 32.82, equivalent to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels average out at a C+ grade too, with 10.3% of entries achieving AAB or higher. The sixth form was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection, and the school overall has held a Good rating since its 2015 graded inspection, with an ungraded visit in 2025 confirming standards are maintained. That’s a notable improvement from the Requires Improvement rating it received in 2013.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 233 places in 2025/26, there were 779 applications, a ratio of 3.34 applicants per place, and 189 offers went to first-preference families out of 231 who put it top. Facilities include a theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, a sixth form centre, and a chapel. SEND provision covers a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Parent View responses from 283 families show 70% would recommend the school, though opinions are more divided on SEND support — only 50% of those with a view agreed that SEND children get the support they need. This is a large, popular comprehensive that suits families who value strong English and maths outcomes and a broad range of clubs and activities, but who are comfortable with a school that sits in the middle of a very competitive local authority.

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