Ages 
This is a highly selective school with a strong sense of community, second-to-none peer support and an enormous amount of pupil pride in the school. Coupled with the top-notch teaching, it’s no wonder the academics – not to mention the extracurricular – go from strength to strength. Where other schools try and fail to marry tradition and innovation, this one seems to achieve it superbly and there’s a heavy focus on female empowerment, with girls not only coming out with flying colours scholastically but gaining a good dose of confidence and leadership skills along the way.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 1,240 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 346 ·
- Local authority
- London Borough of Redbridge
Headteacher
Headteacher
Miss Gemma Van Praagh
Since September 2024, Gemma Van Praagh. Qualified as a teacher through the Institute of Education, with her first teaching post at Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form in Hackney. She became head of drama, head of literacy and then director of
Entrance
Massively oversubscribed for year 7 places, even though the school has expanded to six-form entry (180 girls). CEM entrance tests, apparently tutor-proof, but head aware that many families now (as at other schools) see tutoring as part of the
- Admissions policy
- Academically selective state school
- Open days
- June dates TBC
Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)
Exit
Around 20-25 per cent leave post-GCSE (although there's always a few who try to return within weeks of sixth form starting, sadly not always successfully if places are taken). Nearly all that stay go to university, primarily Russell Group. Seven to
% 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, 79 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 48 per cent A*/A at A level (75 per cent A*-B).
% 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.
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
School maintains an outstanding record of achievement and gets the best results in Redbridge. Also strong on value added. All the more impressive when you consider that many of the students speak a different language at home, with over 40 languages
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
‘Not a huge number of SEN,’ admits head. Two with EHCPs being processed when we visited. Most supported in the classroom – ‘Students don’t like to be taken out of class; we focus more on sharing what works between SENCo and teachers.’
Arts & extracurricular
DofE available, although National Citizenship Service has taken over in popularity (taken in summer of year 11); in fact, take-up so big that David Cameron recently came to do a congratulatory talk on it to the girls.
Sport features highly as part
Sport
Core sports are badminton (which we saw in action in the snazzy sports hall; girls regularly reach the UK badminton national finals), athletics, netball, rounders, gymnastics, cross-country and dance - and girls can pursue multicultural dance options
Ethos & heritage
Main, listed building dates from 1768 when it was built as the private family home of the Highams; later it became a military hospital, with wooden honours boards still displaying the names of some of the state-registered nurses, including Ina Bucket
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Peer support service run by older pupils seen as an integral part of pastoral set-up here. ‘It’s a very supportive community – we look out for each other,’ one girl told us. Plenty of other leadership opportunities. Terrifically active house system.
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review Students must keep mobile phones (turned off) in their lockers for the entire school day. Mobile phone are not to be used during the school day, for any purpose.
Pupils & parents
Multi-ethnic population, with a significant Tamil and Indian student body. Mainly middle-class professional families, but by no means exclusively, with pupil premium usually hovering around eight per cent. Catchment circle incorporates Redbridge and
The last word
This is a highly selective school with a strong sense of community, second-to-none peer support and an enormous amount of pupil pride in the school. Coupled with the top-notch teaching, it’s no wonder the academics – not to mention the
Inspection reports
Ofsted reports
Full inspection: Good
You can read full reports on the Ofsted website
| Personal development | Good |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form provision | Outstanding |
Full inspection: Outstanding
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Sixth form provision | Outstanding |
