Best Secondary Schools in Waltham Forest 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 15 schools across Waltham Forest. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Waltham Forest has 15 open secondary schools. Of the 15 with a published Ofsted inspection, 2 (13%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 93% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Eden Girls' School, Waltham Forest currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Waltham Forest follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

15
Total schools
2
Outstanding (historic grade)
13%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
74.2%
Avg KS2 SATs
39.7
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Eden Girls' School, Waltham Forest
Secondary
 Outstanding 89 View school
🥈 Walthamstow School for Girls
Secondary
 Outstanding 85 View school
🥉 Leytonstone School
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
4. Walthamstow Academy
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
5. Norlington School and 6th Form
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
6. Highams Park School
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
7. Chingford Foundation School
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
8. Frederick Bremer School
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
9. Heathcote School & Science College
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
10. Willowfield School
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
11. Holy Family Catholic School
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
12. Kelmscott School
Secondary
 Good 57 View school
13. Connaught School for Girls
Secondary
 Good 51 View school
14. South Chingford Foundation School
Secondary
 Good 44 View school
15. Lammas School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 38 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Waltham Forest

Best primary schools in Waltham ForestTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in Waltham ForestTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in Waltham ForestPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in Waltham ForestReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in HackneyCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in RedbridgeCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in HaringeyCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in NewhamCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Waltham Forest?
There are 15 open secondary schools in Waltham Forest (closed schools are excluded). 2 of the 15 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Waltham Forest?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Waltham Forest is Eden Girls' School, Waltham Forest. The full ranked table above lists the top 15 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Waltham Forest?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Waltham Forest?
Primary and secondary applications in Waltham Forest are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Waltham Forest council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.