Forest Hill School
London, SE23 2XN · Lewisham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
6th of 13 secondary schools in Lewisham we can score, 14 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 8.4/10 against 871 of them, against 7.2/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 53.9 · 71 | 30% | 2.13 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.3 · 73 | 25% | 1.82 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.9 · 74 | 10% | 0.74 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Forest Hill School overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in February 2024. In 2024/25, 58.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 52.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.3 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,080 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,535. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils in raising their Progress 8 scores further? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Attainment 8?
What Ofsted said about Forest Hill School
Overview
Pupils at this school are described as "safe and happy" and they "achieve well." The school provides a "carefully considered and ambitious curriculum" that goes beyond the national curriculum, ensuring all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, access rich learning opportunities. This combination of academic achievement, strong pastoral care, and personal development means pupils are "well prepared for the next steps in their education or training."
Strengths
- The curriculum is "broad and interesting," with topics arranged logically to help pupils "build on their prior knowledge so they learn more and remember more over time."
- Teachers possess "strong subject knowledge" and use "consistent routines" and "clear instructions," ensuring pupils know what is expected of them.
- There is a "strong focus on celebrating diversity and promoting equality of opportunity," with unkind or discriminatory language not tolerated.
- The "very well-resourced library" exemplifies the school’s commitment to reading, with additional support provided for pupils needing help with confidence and fluency.
- Governors "know the school very well" and share the ambition to provide inclusive education, while staff feel valued and supported.
Areas to improve
- Occasionally, the "choice of tasks in lessons is not focused well enough to help pupils learn the intended lesson content," leading to gaps in knowledge.
- Leaders should continue to develop teachers’ pedagogical skills so they "routinely set the most useful activities that help pupils to learn new knowledge securely."
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 50.5 |
| 2024/25 | 52.3 |
| 2025/26 | 50.9 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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