William Ellis School

About William Ellis School

William Ellis School, a boys’ secondary in Camden, posts a Progress 8 score of -0.17, which is notably better than the local authority average of -0.32 for the same school type. That gap of 0.15 places it above the typical Camden state secondary, though the score itself still falls below the national average of zero. The school ranks 5th out of 12 schools in the borough on this measure, putting it in the top half locally. Its Attainment 8 score sits at 48.8, and just over half of pupils (54.5%) achieve a grade 5 or above in English and maths, with 72.4% hitting the grade 4 baseline. The school’s EBacc entry rate is high at 77.2%, and 41.5% of pupils enter the EBacc with a grade 4 or above. These figures suggest a school that is performing above the Camden average but still has room to improve relative to national benchmarks.

The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, awarded a Good rating across all areas, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership, and sixth-form provision. This marks a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2022, when it was rated Requires Improvement overall. In the sixth form, the value-added score is -0.22, which is banded as Below average, and the average points per entry is 30.72, equivalent to a C grade. The best three A-levels average out at a C grade as well. At KS4, the school’s Progress 8 banding is Average, with a notable positive in maths (0.24) offsetting weaker scores in English (-0.3) and open subjects (-0.51). The school has capacity for 895 pupils and currently houses 817, so it is not at full capacity, yet it was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, with 271 applications for 81 places and 57 first-preference offers.

William Ellis is a non-denominational state school for boys aged 11 to 18, with a co-educational sixth form. It has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 52.4%, well above the national average. The school offers a wide range of SEND provisions, including support for dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, autism, and speech and language needs. Facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and a sixth form centre. Parent feedback is largely positive: 86% of respondents would recommend the school, and 91% agree or strongly agree that their child is happy. However, only 69% feel SEND children get the support they need, and concerns about communication with parents are more mixed. This is a school that suits families looking for a well-regarded boys’ school in central London with strong local results and a clear upward trajectory in its Ofsted rating.

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