South Chingford Foundation School
London, E4 8SG · Waltham Forest · secondary school
Check the area around this school
17th of 17 secondary schools in Waltham Forest 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 — 3.3/10 against 521 of them, against 2.0/10 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 | 2 | 35% | 0.07 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 36.0 · 27 | 30% | 0.82 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.79 · 6 | 25% | 0.15 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 42.8 · 33 | 10% | 0.33 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
South Chingford Foundation School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 29.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 32.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 for 2023/24 was -0.79, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.0 out of 10 against all schools). The school was inspected in January 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 547 pupils against a stated capacity of 675. 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 interventions are in place for students who are falling behind in English and maths? How does the new inspection framework’s separate grading affect day-to-day teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about South Chingford Foundation School
Overview
The report describes a school where leaders have identified key weaknesses and are implementing strategies to improve education, though the impact is currently inconsistent. Pupils enjoy a strong sense of community and feel safe, but their academic achievement and attendance remain significantly below national averages. Leaders are working purposefully to address these issues, with some early signs of improvement in teaching and attendance.
Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are actively identified and managed.
- Pupils feel safe and valued in a small school environment, with bullying being rare and mutual respect shown.
- The careers programme is "well organised," providing high-quality advice and work experience for all pupils.
- Leaders provide effective support for pupils' progression beyond school, with most successfully moving to further education or employment.
- Staff appreciate leaders' care for their workload and wellbeing, and governors have detailed knowledge of the school’s work.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure consistent implementation of teaching strategies so all pupils, including those with SEND, make secure progress.
- Attendance remains significantly below national figures; leaders must maintain focus on their strategy to raise it.
- The personal development programme lacks sufficient time and staff training, leading to inconsistent delivery.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, meaning leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 35.2 |
| 2024/25 | 32.8 |
| 2025/26 | 42.8 |
| 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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