Sydenham School
London, SE26 4RD · Lewisham · secondary 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 — 7.5/10 against 839 of them, against 6.2/10 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% | 1.81 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2024/25 | 48.6 · 62 | 30% | 1.87 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.1 · 57 | 25% | 1.43 |
| Attainment 8 2024/25 | 50.8 · 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.
Get to know the school
How it's doing. The school is rated Good by Ofsted, with the most recent inspection in May 2026. In 2024/25, 48.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 50.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.1 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.2 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom. Pupils can join the Guitar, Ukulele, and Keyboard Clubs, or participate in the Senior Choir, Sydenham Singers, Orchestra, and various instrumental groups.
Getting in. There are 1467 pupils in a school with 1580 places, leaving 113 spare places. The school has a little room, but is fairly full.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school support pupils in developing their musical skills outside of formal lessons? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Progress 8 scores? How does the school manage the transition for Year 7 students joining the choir and orchestra groups?
Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.
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.
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