West London Free School
100%
Capacity
921
Pupils
7.4x
Demand
About West London Free School
West London Free School sits in Hammersmith and Fulham, a borough with fourteen secondary schools, six of which hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted. The school itself ranks first among the eleven state secondaries in the local authority, measured by Progress 8, and sits comfortably ahead of its nearest peers: The Fulham Boys School, The Hurlingham Academy, and Sacred Heart High School. Nationally, it places 96th out of over 3,100 schools, putting it in the top three percent of all state secondaries. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 935 applications for 127 places, with 206 families listing it as their first preference. That kind of demand reflects a school that has built a strong reputation in a competitive London borough, and the numbers back it up.
Academically, the school’s performance is well above average across the board. At GCSE, its Progress 8 score of 0.96 is nearly three times the local authority average of 0.35, and the school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 63.8. Over 85 percent of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, and 83 percent entered the EBacc. The EBacc average point score of 6.07 is strong. At A-level, the school’s value-added score of 0.52 is rated well above average, with students averaging B+ across their best three A-levels. The sixth form was judged Outstanding by Ofsted in 2022, while the school overall holds a Good rating, with personal development also marked Outstanding. Behaviour and attitudes, leadership, and quality of education were all rated Good in that same inspection.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a theatre, art studios, music rooms, a sixth form centre, and playing fields. Sports on offer include rowing, rugby, football, and martial arts, while clubs range from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to Young Enterprise and a school newspaper. The school supports pupils with a wide array of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. With a free school meals rate of 24.1 percent, it draws from a genuinely mixed intake. This is a school for families who want strong academic outcomes in a state setting, who are prepared to navigate a competitive admissions process, and who value a sixth form that has been independently recognised as outstanding.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | 241 King Street, London, Hammersmith and Fulham, W6 9LP |
| Headteacher | Rob Peal Ben McLaughlin |
| Local Authority | Hammersmith and Fulham |
| Number of Pupils | 921 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.1% |
| School Capacity | 921 / 920 (100% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Jun 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 11 Oct 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.96)
96th of 3,141
Nationally
43rd of 487
In London
1st of 11
In Hammersmith and Fulham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
42.3
'22/23
42.9
'23/24
44.5
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
2022/2377%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 129 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)77%
- FE college9%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Employment2%
- Sixth form college1%
94% 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
2022/2375%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 110 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
47%
Russell Group
54%
Top-third HE
7%
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)75%
- Employment11%
- Not sustained10%
- Further education1%
- 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- History48
- Mathematics43
- Psychology39
- Chemistry32
- Biology31
- Religious Studies23
- English Literature22
- Government and Politics22
- Economics21
- Art and Design (Fine Art)15
- Geography14
- Classical Civilisation13
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
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed127
935
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
206 families put this school as their 1st choice (22% 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 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British32.5%
- White (other)21.0%
- Mixed15.9%
- Asian6.2%
- Black1.2%
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.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
24
Total schools
19
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 West London Free 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
241 King Street, London
Hammersmith and Fulham, W6 9LP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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