Woolwich Polytechnic School
87%
Capacity
1,592
Pupils
1.1x
Demand
About Woolwich Polytechnic School
Woolwich Polytechnic School is a boys' secondary school in Greenwich that currently educates 1,592 pupils against a total capacity of 1,820, meaning it is not yet full but still draws significant local demand. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 258 applications for 228 places, with 98 of those coming as first preferences, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.13. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 33 per cent, which is notably higher than the national average and reflects the school's intake from a diverse and economically mixed catchment area. As a state-funded boys' school with a non-religious character and a co-educational sixth form, it serves a broad cross-section of families in the borough. The headteacher is Tom Lawrence, and the school has held a Good rating from Ofsted since its most recent graded inspection in 2019, with an ungraded inspection in 2024 confirming it remains Good.
Academically, Woolwich Polytechnic School performs around the national average, with a Progress 8 score of -0.04, placing it in the 'Average' band. This is slightly below the Greenwich local authority average of 0.1, but the school's Attainment 8 score of 44.4 is solid. In the basics measure, 65.8 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 49.8 per cent achieved a grade 5 or above. The school's EBacc entry rate is low at 2.5 per cent, which is a deliberate curriculum choice rather than a reflection of quality. In the sixth form, the school performs well: its value-added score is 0.09, and the average points per entry is 36.27, equivalent to a B- grade. The sixth form was rated Outstanding in the most recent Ofsted inspection. Nationally, the school ranks 1,622 out of 3,141 schools on Progress 8, placing it in the 51st percentile, while in Greenwich it ranks 9th out of 15 schools.
The school offers a strong range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, astro turf, theatre, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision includes cross country, swimming, martial arts, cricket, dance, and rowing, while clubs range from Eco Club and Gardening to Debate, Model UN, and a Film Club. The school's SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate and severe learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a viable option for families whose children require additional support within a mainstream setting. For parents prioritising a boys' school with a strong sixth form, solid facilities, and a realistic, non-selective intake, Woolwich Polytechnic School is a practical choice that balances academic expectations with inclusive pastoral care.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Hutchins Road, London, Greenwich, SE28 8AT |
| Headteacher | Tom Lawrence |
| Local Authority | Greenwich |
| Number of Pupils | 1,592 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 33.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,592 / 1,820 (87% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (13 Mar 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Mar 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.04)
1622nd of 3,141
Nationally
367th of 487
In London
9th of 15
In Greenwich
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
33.4
'22/23
31.4
'23/24
36.3
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
2022/2369%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 238 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)69%
- Sixth form college12%
- FE college10%
- Not sustained5%
- Employment3%
- Apprenticeship1%
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
2022/2367%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 177 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
27%
Russell Group
29%
Top-third HE
1%
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)67%
- Employment14%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship5%
- 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- Mathematics72
- Economics37
- Psychology30
- Chemistry26
- Physics22
- Biology21
- English Literature20
- Design and Technology (Product Design)19
- Computer Studies / Computing17
- Art and Design (Photography)16
- Drama and Theatre Studies14
- Art and Design (Fine Art)13
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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed228
258
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
98 families put this school as their 1st choice (38% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- Asian16.3%
- White British10.2%
- Mixed9.2%
- White (other)6.7%
- Black5.7%
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
2024/2575% 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.
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.
15
Total schools
14
Oversubscribed
12
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 Woolwich Polytechnic 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
Hutchins Road, London
Greenwich, SE28 8AT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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