Forest School, London
Forest School is an independent school for pupils aged 4 to 18 in London. It has a Church of England religious character. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in September 2024.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Forest School in detail
Forest School in its own words
In its own words: "Forest School knows its pupils and knows itself. It puts the individual child at the centre of all it does and promotes a clear set of values, which underpin the Forest culture."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Forest Prep is a place of joy, ambition, and humanity. Every day, our aim is simple yet profound: to ensure that every child feels known, valued, and inspired to achieve more than they thought possible. With 480 pupils, Forest Prep is a thriving and dynamic community, built on kindness, respect, and a relentless drive for excellence."
Coming up: an open day on Thursday 5 November 2026, an open day on Tuesday 24 November 2026, an open day on Wednesday 24 February 2027 and an open day on Monday 10 May 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Waltham Forest
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Forest School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Forest School are Snaresbrook Prep School (0.7 miles); St Aubyn's School (1.2 miles); Walthamstow Montessori School (1.6 miles); and Noor Ul Islam Primary School (1.7 miles, Good).
Snaresbrook Prep SchoolSt Aubyn's SchoolWalthamstow Montessori SchoolNoor Ul Islam Primary School
Where pupils go next
Of the 138 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 72% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 9% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 329 pupils (20.5%) received SEN support and 1 (0.1%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Wood Street Rail Station, about 820 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Oakhurst Gardens (->n), 210 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 381 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Waltham Forest (663).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
24 September 2024
Inspection
20 January 2023
Regulatory Compliance
19 May 2021
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
14 November 2017
Inspection
1 January 2011
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Forest School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby all-through schools
Latest from Forest School
Forest School CCF Takes to the Seas
22 Sep 2026
Interview with Professor Tanya Byron
22 Sep 2026
A Level Results Day 2026
20 Aug 2026
GCSE Results Day 2026
20 Aug 2026
Leavers’ Ball 2026
3 Aug 2026
Cambridge Economics Awards
27 Jul 2026
From Forest School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Forest School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Forest School.
- 1st Stepping Stones Nursery at Peterhouse410m away · Not yet graded
- WO Sports790m away · Not yet graded
- TALLS AND SMALLS940m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 15
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 11 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Waltham Forest is 66 (the median across 87 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
105%
Over capacity
1,605 pupils
1,530 places
75 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Waltham Forest council
Places available
3,090
Applications
2,724
Got 1st preference
79.5%
Got preferred school
96.3%
All secondary applications across Waltham Forest council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
329
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
20.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
1,605
Total Pupils
840
Boys
765
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Forest School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Forest School
What are GCSE results like at Forest School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Forest School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Forest School last inspected?
Forest School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in September 2024.
How many pupils go to Forest School?
Forest School has around 1605 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Forest School?
Forest School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
Does Forest School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 3 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Forest School: 1st Stepping Stones Nursery at Peterhouse (410m away, registered, not yet graded), WO Sports (790m away, registered, not yet graded) and TALLS AND SMALLS (940m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Forest School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 11 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Waltham Forest is 66 (the median across 87 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Forest School?
Forest School is at College Place, Snaresbrook, London, E17 3PY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)