An inclusive school doing a splendid job at catering for a wide ability as well as blowing away gender stereotypes – a place where it’s cool to be involved in drama, music and dance as much as being in the first team for rugby, and plenty for those in-between. Ticks all the boxes for a school worth moving into the area for.
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Unlock to accessOverview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 1,745 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 641 ·
- Religion
- None
- Local authority
- London Borough of Bromley
Headteacher
Headteacher
Suzanne Munday
Since April 2023, Suzanne Munday, previously deputy head of Sydenham High School GDST for just under three years and before that, deputy head for four years at St Martin-in-the-Fields High School for Girls, where the experience of her first
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Learn what pupils and parents really think of this school, along with our expert opinion on the headteacher’s leadership style, the school’s academic results and facilities, the focus on pastoral care, and the range of extra-curricular activities.
Entrance
Non-selective and consistently oversubscribed by three to one in year 7 (245 pupils) with a one-mile catchment. Eight form entry from about 50 schools, including Langley Park Primary and Oak Lodge, although about a fifth are fondly referred to as
- Open days
- Sixth Form Open evening for external students
Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)
Exit
About a quarter leave after GCSEs, mainly for colleges to study BTECs and vocational subjects. Eighty per cent of sixth formers are university bound, a quarter of these to Russell Group, with Leeds, Durham, York, Warwick and Exeter popular. Other
% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)
What is this?
The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.
Latest results
In 2024, 30 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 83 per cent 9-4 in both maths and English. At A level, 26 per cent A*/A (55 per cent A*-B). In 2023, 31 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 82 per cent 9-4 in both maths and English. At A level, 46 per cent A*-B.
GCSE - % of pupils achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)
What is this?
This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.
A levels or equivalent - Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
‘A grammar school feel with independent school facilities,’ according to parents, the upshot of which are decent results, progress levels that tower above national average and EBacc scores above both local and national average. Pupils say the key
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- BTEC
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
SEN is ‘celebrated’, with provision for a range of needs including dyslexia, ADHD and autism ‘in the school’s DNA’, according to parents. The 22 per cent of pupils on the SEN register receive support mainly in the classroom by the 28 TAs overseen by
Arts & extracurricular
Drama is ‘cool’ here, say sixth formers – and it’s superb. The bi-annual whole school productions have large budgets and massive buy-in (‘You go along even if your child isn’t in it’), with the recent Singing in the Rain musical boasting a cast of
Sport
Good reputation and, despite perception, it isn’t all about rugby. All incoming year 7s invited to pre-season and ‘if you turn up for training, you’ll play in a team’ (eight teams in year 7). Girls’ rugby has taken off, with an upcoming inaugural
Ethos & heritage
Founded in 1901 as Beckenham Technical Institute (now the popular Venue 28), the school moved to Eden Park in 1969, unveiling its swanky rebuild in 2012. Think red-bricked airport terminal in all the right ways – relatively low lying and curving
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Inclusivity ‘isn’t just talked about, it’s lived’, approved a parent. Perfectly messaged by the floor-to-ceiling diversity and inclusion window literally shining a rainbow light on the corridor. Posters celebrating trailblazing LGBQT+ role models on
Pupils & parents
For an all-boys school, the testosterone must have been a low emission day as all seemed calm, focused and relaxed. Ethnic mix not as diverse as London but reflective of the area. Socio-economically at the higher end: ‘Sometimes the drop-off looks
The last word
An inclusive school doing a splendid job at catering for a wide ability as well as blowing away gender stereotypes – a place where it’s cool to be involved in drama, music and dance as much as being in the first team for rugby, and plenty for those
Inspection reports
Ofsted reports
Short inspection: Good
You can read full reports on the Ofsted website
| Leadership and management | Good |
|---|---|
| Sixth form provision | Good |
Full inspection: Outstanding
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Sixth form provision | Outstanding |