Kingsdale Foundation School
London, SE21 8SQ · Southwark · secondary school
Check the area around this school
4th of 19 secondary schools in Southwark we can score, 20 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 — 9.3/10 against 885 of them, against 8.7/10 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 | 94 | 35% | 3.29 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 62.4 · 84 | 30% | 2.52 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.68 · 90 | 25% | 2.26 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 56.9 · 89 | 10% | 0.89 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Kingsdale Foundation School overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2023. In 2024/25, 66.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 59.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.68 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally starting from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (9.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 9.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Film Club, Arts Award, and Young designers. Sports include archery, horse riding, inter-house football, basketball, table tennis, chess, and netball. Trips cover art and design, overnight camping, and hikes. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 2,550 pupils against a stated capacity of 2,455. 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
What specific support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How are the arts and sports facilities accessed by all year groups?
What Ofsted said about Kingsdale Foundation School
Overview
The report describes a large, diverse school where pupils are “rightly very proud” and feel “welcome and valued.” Leaders maintain “extremely high” expectations for academic achievement and behaviour, resulting in an environment where pupils “thrive and enjoy their lessons.” The inspection confirms that the school continues to deliver an outstanding education with effective leadership and management.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “broad and ambitious,” with subject leaders carefully sequencing content so pupils can “build on previous knowledge” and progress to complex ideas.
- Pupils’ behaviour is “exceptional” and “exemplary,” with staff ensuring rules are “simple and clear,” allowing learning to proceed without disruption.
- Leaders “quickly identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)” and ensure they receive personalised support to access the full curriculum.
- Personal development is promoted through a “well planned” PSHE programme, diverse enrichment activities, and opportunities for pupils to develop leadership skills.
- Staff receive valuable support regarding training and workload, and governors “challenge leaders where necessary” to drive improvement.
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with staff receiving regular training and leaders working well with outside agencies to keep pupils safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 66.7 |
| 2024/25 | 59.9 |
| 2025/26 | 56.9 |
| 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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