An upbeat environment, with strong teaching and results. A firm stepping stone between school and university.
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Headteacher
Principal
Sugra Alibhai
Since 2021, Sugra Alibhai, also CEO of the newly established Frontier Learning Trust, comprising Woodhouse College and the new Imperial College London Mathematics School, which aims to open in 2023. Previously vice principal and head of sixth form at
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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
Priority is given to applicants from two local partner secondary schools, The Archer Academy (around 70 places per year) and Friern Barnet (roughly 20 places), though they still have the same entry requirements. After that, it’s predicted grades
- Open days
- November

Exit
Over 95 per cent to university – over 60 per cent to Russell Group universities, with the most popular destinations being London universities, Warwick, Kent, Manchester and Sussex. Most popular subject choices are economics, law, engineering,
% 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, 50 per cent A*/A at A level (80 per cent A*-B).
A level - 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
Woodhouse is one of the country’s leading sixth form colleges, always in the top five nationally, usually in the top three. This is essentially an academic place, whose main focus is on A levels.
Undoubtedly a key part of the success is
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- EPQ

Learning support & SEN
All students have access to two learning mentors - one for humanities, the other science and maths - to sort out any day-to-day tangles. One full-time SENCo, plus one part-time specialist providing individual support for those with dyslexia and

Arts & extracurricular
Woodhouse prides itself on providing ‘a broad and civilising education’ and all are expected to take part in at least two six-week courses of ‘enrichment’, the majority of which take place on Wednesdays afternoons, when there are no lessons. Most

Sport
Sports facilities are good, with a new sports hall and new floodlit 3G football pitch. Official team sports include football (girls' and boys'), netball and basketball, but individualists can also enjoy cross-country, squash, trampolining and

Ethos & heritage
Located in a pleasant leafy suburb, Woodhouse began its educational life as Woodhouse Grammar School in 1925, but became one of the capital’s rare sixth form colleges in the 1980s. Today all pupils are aged between 16 and 19 and all are studying A

Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Not every 16-year-old is ideally suited to the self-motivation required by an academic sixth form college, but here high expectations are supported by a well-thought-out tutorial system and plenty of individual guidance. Every student has their own

Pupils & parents
An eclectic mix - ‘some nerdy kids, some cool kids, all sorts, colours and creeds’. The core is probably typical of the reasonably prosperous ‘squeezed middle’ of north London, but with a far higher ethnic intake than you’d assume from the location,

Money matters
A £50 refundable deposit is required for text books. The college has attempted to replace some money lost through EMA cuts with bursaries.

The last word
An upbeat environment, with strong teaching and results. A firm stepping stone between school and university.