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Sydenham School

Secondary · Girls · Ages 11–18 · Community school

Dartmouth Road, London SE26 4RD · sydenham.lewisham.sch.uk · 020 8699 6731

On the mapSearch near SE26 4RD

Overview

Ofsted
Report card
May 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
GCSEs, 2024/25
50.8
average Attainment 8 score. Lewisham 46.7, England 46
Last distance offered
1.33 mi
2.14 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Lewisham Council
Demand for places
0.9
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,467
93% of 1,580 places
Local authority
Lewisham
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
27.8%
First language not English
17.4%
School census 2025/26

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 1.33 mi (2.14 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 1.35 mi (2.17 km). Source: Lewisham Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 217 families put the school first and 235 places were offered; 82% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

Demand for places

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 222 (Places 235)222September 2023: 239 (Places 238)239September 2024: 197 (Places 238)197September 2025: 228 (Places 231)228September 2026: 217 (Places 235)217Places 235
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262352170.982%
September 2025Sept 2025231228178%
September 2024Sept 20242381970.885%
September 2023Sept 20232382391▲76%
September 2022Sept 20222352220.977%

Last distance offered

Year 7Distance
September 20261.33 mi2.14 km
September 20251.35 mi2.17 km
September 20241.42 mi2.29 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 50.8, and 48.6% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Lewisham it was 46.7, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B (39.3 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 51.7 (England 46.3)51.72017/18: 51.6 (England 46.5)51.62018/19: 51.1 (England 46.7)51.12021/22: 54.6 (England 48.8)54.62022/23: 51.6 (England 46.3)51.62023/24: 49.7 (England 45.9)49.72024/25: 50.8 (England 46.0)50.8England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲50.846.0
▲48.6%45.4%
▲72.5%64.8%
▲67.9%40.5%
▲4.644.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form76.2+5.4
Sixth form college3.5−0.9
Further education12.1−4.3
Other education0.9—
Apprenticeship1.3+0.4
Employment0.9−0.4
Not in a lasting destination2.6−3.2
Activity not captured2.6+2.2

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 31.1 (England 30.5)C2016/17: 33.9 (England 31.1)C+2017/18: 32.2 (England 32.1)C+2018/19: 32.3 (England 32.9)C+2021/22: 39.2 (England 37.9)B2022/23: 37.6 (England 34.2)B-2023/24: 36.9 (England 34.4)B-2024/25: 39.3 (England 35.0)BEngland 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
116 studentsB (39.3)Average +0.09
116 studentsB (39.3)Average +0.09
68 studentsDist (35.8)Above average +0.53
19.3%AAB or better
96.5%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2477B- (36.9)+0.13
2022/23110B- (37.6)—
2021/22105B (39.2)—
2018/19126C+ (32.3)-0.17
2017/1898C+ (32.2)+0.05
2016/1782C+ (33.9)-0.07
2015/16106C (31.1)+0.06

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/20
Left in 2019/20Since 2016/17
University57+7
Further and other education19+9
Further education10+1
Other education9+8
Apprenticeship1−5
Employment8−9
Not in a lasting destination8−4
Activity not captured60

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected Sydenham School on 19 May 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.

Inspected
19 May 2026
Report card
Safeguarding
Met

Inspection reports

Graded areas

InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and well-beingStrong standard
Post-16 provisionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard

Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Jun 2022

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Jun 2022Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Apr 2013Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
  • Jun 2010Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesGood

What parents said

77% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (222 replies, to 2 April 2023).

Recommend
77%
Replies
222
15% · 2 Apr 2023
Child is happy at school▼75% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▼82% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▼71% agreeEngland 83%
School has high expectations▲86% agreeEngland 82%
Child does well▼81% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼72% agreeEngland 80%
Told how child is doing▼80% agreeEngland 83%
Good range of subjects●92% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▼83% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▼67% agreeEngland 78%
Concerns are dealt with properly●73% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 84% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▼32% agreeEngland 49%

based on the 41% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼54% agreeEngland 67%

based on 51 parents (23%) with SEND

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