Sydenham School, London

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Sydenham School on 7 areas: 5 strong standard and 2 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have very high expectations for pupils' attendance."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have robust systems in place for identifying pupils with additional needs."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders are highly ambitious for the pupils and students at this school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders are focused on developing pupils' character."

Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "Leaders have established a highly inclusive post-16 provision that works in partnership with a local school."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically achieve well over time."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a curriculum in place for each subject area, which is carefully planned and appropriately sequenced."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure teachers consistently check pupils' understanding to identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge and understanding so that pupils achieve highly across the curriculum".

In its own words: "Whether you left Sydenham last year or many decades ago, you remain an important part of our school community. Since 1917, Sydenham School has been educating and empowering young women, and you are part of that proud legacy. Our motto "Aim High" continues to guide everything we do."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Sydenham School is a successful, diverse and inclusive girls' community secondary school with a co-educational sixth form, established in 1917. We provide a nurturing environment for students to feel safe, confident, happy and achieve academic excellence. Our motto "Aim High" reflects our commitment to instilling the Sydenham Characteristics of ambition, determination and respect."

In 2026, pupils at Sydenham School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 53.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.4 in Lewisham and 47 across England.

58% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Lewisham and 47% in England.

That is up from 50.8 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.1: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 44.8, against 57 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Spanish.

For September 2026 entry, 217 families put Sydenham School as their first choice and 681 named it as one of their preferences, for 235 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 38 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Sydenham School are Sydenham and Forest Hill Sixth Form (under 0.1 miles); Forest Hill School (0.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.9); Allenby Tutorial Trust (0.8 miles); and Kingsdale Foundation School (1.1 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 56.9).

Sydenham School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.

Of the 231 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 12% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 105 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 69% went on to university or other higher education, 1% to apprenticeships and 9% into work. 23% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 237 pupils (16.2%) received SEN support and 30 (2%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Forest Hill Station, about 660 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sydenham Police Station (k), 70 metres away.

In 2024/25, Sydenham School issued 123 suspensions, 8.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Sydenham School are Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School (0.1 miles), Kelvin Grove Primary School (0.2 miles), Eliot Bank Primary School (0.2 miles) and St Bartholomews's Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.