SchoolScoresWalthamstow School for Girls
Community school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Girls only
Church Hill, Walthamstow, London, E17 9RZ
020 8509 9446 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 13 June 2018.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Outcomes for pupils | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 4 December 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
132 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Waltham Forest comparisons use the 8 of its 18 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 10 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 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Forest. Higher than 67% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 83% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 2nd highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Forest. Higher than 75% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 84% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Forest. Higher than 86% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 80% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 31 parents whose child had been bullied 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Forest. Higher than 15% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 35% | 49% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 92 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Forest. Higher than 88% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 75% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 36 parents of children with SEND Higher than 88% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 2nd highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Forest. Higher than 85% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92%said yes | 79% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 15%). 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
179 pupils in this year group.
73% — 27 points above the Waltham Forest average, and 27 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Waltham Forest | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 73% | 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. | 60 | 45.3 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 5.4 | 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.
178 pupils in this year group.
97% — 4 points above the Waltham Forest average, and 5 points above 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. | 97% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 38% | 35% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 46% | 28% | 13% |
| Further education college | 11% | 26% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 1% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 93% | 97% |
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 about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 173 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 231 |
| Of those, offered a place | 162 (70%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 550 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.5 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.3
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 15th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Higher than 49% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 26.9% | 34.3%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 11th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Higher than 71% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.9% | 4.6%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 12th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Higher than 25% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.4% | 12.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 17th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Higher than 56% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.4% | 40.0%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Lower than 84% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 6.2% | 7.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Lower than 81% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 16.6% | 23.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Lower than 79% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.0 | 10.8 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Lower than 74% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.0% | 6.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.22% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 5th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Higher than 47% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.7 | 15.8 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Higher than 58% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.2 | 11.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 13th highest of 17 state secondary schools in Waltham Forest. Higher than 30% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2% | 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
- Holy Family Catholic School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 43% grade 5+ English and maths
- Frederick Bremer School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- Kelmscott School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025 · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Forest School 1.0 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 50% A*/A at A level
- Big Creative Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected
- Walthamstow Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2022 · 54% grade 5+ English and maths
- Leytonstone School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
- Willowfield School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected · 55% grade 5+ English and maths
- George Mitchell School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- Big Creative Independent School 1.3 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Walthamstow School for Girls's Ofsted rating?
Walthamstow School for Girls was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 June 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 4 December 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Walthamstow School for Girls do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 73% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 27 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Walthamstow School for Girls?
92% of the 132 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Walthamstow School for Girls to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Walthamstow School for Girls oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 231 families put Walthamstow School for Girls as their first choice for 173 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 162 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 103103.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- 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.