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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Expected standardURN 100741

Sydenham School

Community school · London · SE26 4RD

Ages 11–18 · 1,467 pupils · Lewisham

School website

Ofsted

Expected standard

Attainment 8

49.7

Overall absence

8.1%

Admissions demand

0.85 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Expected standard

Inspection date

2026-05-19

  • AchievementExpected standard
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
  • InclusionStrong standard
  • Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
  • Leadership and governanceStrong standard

Safeguarding standards: Met

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+0.10
−20+2
Attainment 849.7
English & maths grade 5+48%
English & maths grade 4+67%
EBacc entry67%

EBacc APS: 4.5

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence8.1%
Persistent absence (10%+)24.1%
Unauthorised5.5%
Authorised absence
2.7%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.5%
Enrolments in measure
1,236

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.85 · Often has places

1st preferences

197

Places offered

238

1st-preference offers

167

Total preferences (any rank)
655
Preferred offers (top 3)
238
Applications from outside LA
239
Offers to outside-LA applicants
54
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill93%

1,467 pupils · 1,580 places

Pupils on roll
1,467
Boys / girls
15 / 1,452
School capacity
1,580
Capacity fill
1,467 / 1,580 (93%)
Free school meals
27.8%
FSM pupils
325
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Girls
School type
Community school

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Community school
Headteacher
Mrs Emma Wijnberg

Location

Address
Dartmouth Road
Postcode
SE26 4RD
Town
London
Local authority
Lewisham
District
Lewisham
Constituency
Lewisham West and East Dulwich
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Girls community school (secondary), Ages 11–18, in London, Lewisham, 1,467 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 27.8%.

Open schools in London
1846
Secondary schools in London
249
Academies among open schools in London
23% (427)
Open schools in SE26
10
Secondary in SE26
1
Open schools in Lewisham LA
98
Secondary in Lewisham LA
10

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in LondonNear SE26

  • Forest Hill School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Secondary

    London · SE23 2XN · Lewisham

    Ages 11–18

    • Att850.5
    • P80.3
    • EM5+55%
    • Absence6.4%

    0.5 miles away

  • Kingsdale Foundation School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    London · SE21 8SQ · Southwark

    Ages 11–19

    • Att866.7
    • P80.7
    • EM5+82%
    • Absence5.6%

    1.1 miles away

  • Harris Girls Academy Bromley

    Ofsted: School remains Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Beckenham · BR3 1QR · Bromley

    Ages 11–18

    • Att858.6
    • P81.0
    • EM5+70%
    • Absence6.0%

    1.5 miles away

  • Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    London · SE22 0AT · Southwark

    Ages 11–18

    • Att855.4
    • P81.0
    • EM5+52%
    • Absence5.1%

    1.6 miles away

  • Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    London · SE22 0NR · Southwark

    Ages 11–18

    • Att853.7
    • P80.4
    • EM5+62%
    • Absence7.8%

    1.6 miles away

  • Harris City Academy Crystal Palace

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    London · SE19 2JH · Croydon

    Ages 11–18

    • Att851.4
    • P80.2
    • EM5+55%
    • Absence5.7%

    1.7 miles away

  • Sedgehill Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    London · SE6 3QW · Lewisham

    Ages 11–18

    • Att845.1
    • P80.2
    • EM5+40%
    • Absence6.9%

    1.8 miles away

  • The Norwood School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Secondary

    London · SE19 3NY · Lambeth

    Ages 11–19

    • Att848.5
    • P80.0
    • EM5+47%
    • Absence7.7%

    1.9 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Emma Wijnberg
Telephone
02086996731
Website
http://www.sydenham.lewisham.sch.uk/

Official links