Platanos College
London, SW9 0AL · Lambeth · secondary school
Check the area around this school
7th of 16 secondary schools in Lambeth we can score. 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 — 7.4/10 against 204 of them, against 5.4/10 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 | 33% | 1.75 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 54.4 · 72 | 31% | 2.22 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.22 · 33 | 26% | 0.85 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.3 · 52 | 10% | 0.53 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Platanos College overview
How it's doing
Platanos College was rated Good by Ofsted in March 2022. In 2024/25, 35.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.22 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 870 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,000. 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 to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve progress scores for students starting from lower baselines?
What Ofsted said about Platanos College
Overview
The report describes a school where “pupils enjoy school” and benefit from “strong relationships between pupils and adults.” Leaders are developing an “ambitious and relevant curriculum” that prepares pupils well for further study, with particular praise for the “Portfolio for Life” which promotes personal development. The inspection notes that while the school was previously judged ‘Outstanding’, this report reflects the current framework and identifies specific areas for curriculum refinement.
Strengths
- Teachers set “high expectations” and help pupils achieve, with “key concepts” well sequenced to build on prior learning.
- Pupils develop “positive attitudes to learning” in a community focused on education, with “very little bullying.”
- The “Portfolio for Life” curriculum effectively promotes personal, social, health and economic education, helping pupils become “confident and considerate.”
- There is a “comprehensive careers programme” and strong support for pupils attending alternative provision.
- Subject leaders ensure pupils “remember it easily” through regular review, such as practising phonics in Spanish.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should review the curriculum to ensure “balance of breadth and depth” in Years 7 to 9, as some subjects lack sufficient depth due to ‘taster option’ arrangements.
- Trustees and leaders must strengthen oversight of the quality of education, as they have not “sufficiently challenged leaders about curriculum decisions.”
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” with leaders identifying at-risk pupils and working with external agencies to ensure support.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 44.0 |
| 2024/25 | 40.8 |
| 2025/26 | 46.3 |
| 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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