Forest Hill School, London
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Forest Hill School excels at helping students from all backgrounds make good progress, particularly those starting below average. The school creates a welcoming, positive atmosphere where behaviour is outstanding and students actively support each other as mentors. Teachers know their students well and use the school's expertise in performing arts to help develop thoughtful, caring individuals who are keen to learn.
Key Strengths
- Students make good progress from below-average starting points, with attainment well above national average by Year 11
- Outstanding behaviour and attitudes to learning, with students taking on mentoring responsibilities
- Strong leadership that has maintained a sharp focus on improving teaching quality and holding staff accountable
- Excellent support for vulnerable students including those with special needs, disabled pupils, and those learning English as an additional language
- Good use of pupil premium funding to boost aspirations and close achievement gaps
Areas for Improvement
- Most-able students not achieving as well in English and science as they do in mathematics
- Teachers not consistently challenging the most-able students in science and English lessons
- Students not always encouraged to respond in writing to teacher marking comments to improve their work
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective; inspectors paid close attention to all aspects of safeguarding including school policies and monitoring information.
Extracurricular Activities
Brilliant club, peer reading and mentoring, homework club, music lessons and performances
Forest Hill School is a good school where students make good progress in English and mathematics from below-average starting points, reaching comfortably above-average attainment by Year 11. The school is particularly effective at developing students' behaviour, attitudes to learning, and spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
At a Glance
27.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
23.1
Avg class size
42
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
70%
Available places
1,080 pupils
1,535 capacity
455 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for London
Admissions Demand - Lewisham
Places available
2,251
Applications
2,923
Got 1st preference
63.9%
Got preferred school
93.5%
Secondary admissions across Lewisham (2025/26)
Inspection History(110)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.03517%
Overall absence
18.93096%
Persistent absence
898
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Forest Hill School
Adamsrill Primary School
St Michael's Church of England Primary School
St Bartholomews's Church of England Primary School
Perrymount Primary School
St George's CofE Primary School
Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School
Our Lady and St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School
Haseltine Primary School
Kilmorie Primary School
Kelvin Grove Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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