SchoolScoresSouth Chingford Foundation School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of CHINGFORD ACADEMIES TRUST
Stadium Close, Chingford, London, E4 8SG
020 8531 9231 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 20 January 2026 , published 26 March 2026.
In short: 6 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Waltham Forest comparisons use the 4 of its 18 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 14 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Waltham Forest | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Forest. Higher than 17% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 62% | 73% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Forest. Higher than 36% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 83% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Forest. Higher than 23% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 58% | 67% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 24 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Forest. Higher than 25% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 58% | 60% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Forest. Higher than 21% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65%said yes | 73% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 4%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Waltham Forest figures pool parents at the Waltham Forest schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
120 pupils in this year group.
29% — 16 points below the Waltham Forest average, and 16 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Waltham Forest | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 29% | 46% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 32.8 | 45.3 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
95 pupils in this year group.
91% — 2 points below the Waltham Forest average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Waltham Forest | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 91% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 32% | 35% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 19% | 28% | 13% |
| Further education college | 38% | 26% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 1% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 92% | 91% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Waltham Forest. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 64 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 28 |
| Of those, offered a place | 28 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 141 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.5 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 0.4
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Waltham Forest | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Higher than 79% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 41.6% | 34.3%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 8th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.7% | 4.6%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 13th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Higher than 24% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.4% | 12.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Higher than 94% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 54.0% | 40.0%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 17th lowest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Lower than 4% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 13.3% | 7.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 17th lowest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Lower than 1% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 46.9% | 23.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 16th lowest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Lower than 29% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 25.4 | 10.8 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 17th lowest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Lower than 13% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.1% | 6.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.22% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 16th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Higher than 5% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 13.7 | 15.8 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 12th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Higher than 19% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.3 | 11.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 15th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Higher than 12% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 7.0% | 13.9%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Walthamstow Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2022 · 54% grade 5+ English and maths
- Highams Park School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- Frederick Bremer School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- Holy Family Catholic School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 43% grade 5+ English and maths
- Woodford County High School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 99% grade 5+ English and maths
- Walthamstow School for Girls 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2018), confirmed 2024 · 73% grade 5+ English and maths
- Big Creative Independent School 1.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Eden Girls' School, Waltham Forest 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2022 · 74% grade 5+ English and maths
- Big Creative Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected
- Forest School 1.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 50% A*/A at A level
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is South Chingford Foundation School's Ofsted rating?
South Chingford Foundation School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 20 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did South Chingford Foundation School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 29% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 16 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend South Chingford Foundation School?
65% of the 26 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend South Chingford Foundation School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is South Chingford Foundation School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 28 families put South Chingford Foundation School as their first choice for 64 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 28 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 138859.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.