Woodford County High School
99%
Capacity
1,245
Pupils
3.1x
Demand
About Woodford County High School
Woodford County High School holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, though the picture is more nuanced than a single label suggests. The school was previously rated Outstanding in 2009, and the 2022 inspection judged both the quality of education and sixth-form provision as Outstanding, while overall effectiveness, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management were all rated Good. The most telling academic metric is the school’s Progress 8 score of 0.79, which places it well above average nationally. That score ranks Woodford County 2nd out of 19 secondary schools in Waltham Forest, 79th out of 487 in London, and 198th out of 3,141 schools across England. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is 0.59, so pupils here make significantly more progress than their peers in neighbouring schools.
Exam results are consistently strong across both key stages. At KS4, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 78.3, and 99.4% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 7.76, with 94.4% of pupils entering and achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the sixth form, the average points per entry is 42.59, equivalent to a B+ grade, and 38.2% of A-level entries were graded AAB or higher. The best three A-levels average out at a B+ grade. However, the sixth-form value-added score is -0.18, which is below average, suggesting that while outcomes are high in absolute terms, students may not make as much progress from their starting points compared with similar schools nationally.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 561 applications for 180 places, with 357 first-preference applications and 163 first-preference offers — an oversubscription ratio of 3.12. Facilities are extensive and include a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and a sixth-form centre. The school supports a range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and hearing or visual impairments. With a 12.4% free school meals rate, the intake is less disadvantaged than many London secondaries. Woodford County is a girls’ grammar school (though it is not formally selective) and will suit families who want high academic expectations, a strong EBacc focus, and a wide choice of extracurriculars from rowing to coding and orchestra. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Woodbridge High School, 1.2 km away.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | High Road, Woodford Green, Waltham Forest, IG8 9LA |
| Headteacher | Gemma Van Praagh |
| Local Authority | Redbridge |
| Number of Pupils | 1,245 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,245 / 1,260 (99% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 7 Feb 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.79)
198th of 3,141
Nationally
79th of 487
In London
2nd of 19
In Waltham Forest
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
43.9
'22/23
41.9
'23/24
42.6
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
2022/2393%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 179 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)93%
- FE college1%
- Employment1%
99% 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
2022/2374%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 159 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
58%
Russell Group
65%
Top-third HE
5%
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)74%
- Employment9%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
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- Mathematics108
- Biology98
- Chemistry89
- Psychology48
- Economics38
- English Literature31
- History25
- Physics23
- Classical Civilisation21
- Mathematics (Further)14
- Government and Politics12
- Geography11
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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed180
561
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
357 families put this school as their 1st choice (64% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian79.4%
- Mixed4.8%
- White British4.2%
- White (other)3.9%
- Black0.6%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
11
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
7
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 Woodford County High 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
High Road, Woodford Green
Waltham Forest, IG8 9LA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Reviews on Other Platforms
External reviews are provided by third-party platforms and are not verified by Classpot.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Woodford County High School!
Write a Review