Wembley High Technology College Review 2026: A Non-Selective Academy Delivering Outstanding Results

Wembley High Technology College sits on East Lane in North Wembley, roughly 10 minutes from Wembley Stadium. The school traces its roots to 1934, when it opened as East Lane County Secondary School, rebranding as Wembley High School in 1979 before adopting its current name in 2003 when it became a technology specialist college. In October 2022, the school received an Outstanding rating across all categories in its first full Ofsted inspection as an academy, maintaining the excellence it has demonstrated for many years. With nearly 1,400 students across Years 7 to 13 and a sixth form of around 300, it serves a predominantly multicultural, non-selective intake and has positioned itself as one of Brent's highest-performing comprehensive schools. Headteacher Tom Best, who took the helm in September 2023, leads an institution built on rigorous academic foundations combined with ambitious personal development. This is a state school with no tuition fees. The school ranks 402nd in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 9% of schools nationally. A-level performance is equally impressive, ranking 472nd in England (FindMySchool data) and 3rd in Brent locally.

Wembley High Technology College embodies a culture where academic ambition and personal growth coexist naturally. The school operates from a modernised campus that reflects decades of careful expansion. Recent facility improvements include a new science block, mathematics block, sixth-form block, multiple astroturf pitches, and a new hall, signalling leadership's commitment to providing state-of-the-art teaching environments. The atmosphere is purposeful but not pressurised. Students are encouraged to develop as independent thinkers, grounded in clarity about what the school expects of them.

Safeguarding is notably robust. Staff demonstrate clear knowledge of identifying at-risk pupils, and leaders work collaboratively with external agencies. Students receive age-appropriate lessons on consent and online safety. The school's multicultural character is genuine, actively celebrated through assemblies and cross-curricular programming that ensures students from diverse faiths and backgrounds feel genuinely represented. Sixth-form students take visible leadership roles, mentoring younger pupils and running the school council and medicine society. Behaviour throughout the school is exemplary; bullying is rare and dealt with swiftly when it occurs. The overarching vision, "Achievement for All," shapes everything from curriculum design to pastoral support.

GCSE Performance

In 2024, GCSE results demonstrated sustained excellence. 51% of all entries achieved grades 9-7 (well above the England average of 54%), with 31% reaching the top grades of 9-8. At grade 5 and above, the pass rate stood at 86%, well above the England benchmark. The Attainment 8 score of 65.1 reflects strong overall achievement, and the Progress 8 value of +1.43 indicates that pupils make well above-average progress from their starting points, particularly notable given the school's non-selective intake. English Baccalaureate participation stands at 71%, with 71% achieving grade 5 or above across the core EBacc subjects.

These results place the school in the top 9% nationally, demonstrating that comprehensive education can yield outcomes rivalling selective institutions. For families seeking academic rigour without the hurdle of an entrance exam, this track record is significant.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form delivers consistently strong results, with 63% of grades at A*-B in 2024. This places the school well above the England average (48% at A*-B). The school has invested substantially in A-level breadth; 26 subjects are offered, including Classical Greek, Russian, and History of Art, reflecting the school's commitment to intellectual range rather than narrow vocational tracking.

According to sixth-form data from 2024, approximately 80% of leavers progressed to university, with one-third of sixth formers going on to Russell Group universities, including Imperial College, UCL, King's College London, LSE, Warwick, Bath, Bristol, and Edinburgh. In the same cohort, one student secured a Cambridge place and Cambridge offered places to 1 of 11 applicants from the school, reflecting the school's success in preparing candidates for the most competitive universities.

The curriculum is ambitious and deliberately sequenced. Teachers are subject specialists with strong domain knowledge. In classrooms, instruction is clear; teachers explain new content carefully and build in sufficient practice and consolidation time before moving forward. Assessment is used continuously to check understanding, and misconceptions are addressed swiftly. This precision approach yields consistently high-quality pupil work.

Reading is valued and explicitly cultivated. All Key Stage 3 students are enrolled in the Wider Reading Programme, which encourages selection of texts beyond the curriculum. Sixth-formers routinely engage with university-level research articles. The school has secured funding to give every pupil a reading book to keep every six weeks, building personal home libraries over time. Pupils with SEND study the same curriculum as their peers, with subject-specialist teachers providing targeted support.

Early GCSE entry is encouraged in certain subjects; some students begin GCSE content in Year 9 or take examinations in Year 10, freeing Year 11 to pursue additional subjects or higher-level study. This flexibility benefits high-achieving pupils and broadens the intellectual scope available to them.

University progression is a defining strength. The Sixth Form Learning Centre provides a dedicated space for independent study, equipped with sophisticated classrooms and research facilities. The school runs a rigorous university preparation programme, including personal statement coaching, admissions test preparation, and interview practice tailored for Oxbridge and leading universities.

Beyond Oxbridge, leavers progress to elite universities. In 2023-24, approximately one-third of sixth formers secured places at Russell Group institutions, with particular success in medical school admissions (18 places in 2024). The careers team is dedicated and embedded throughout the school; sixth-formers receive specialist support with course selection and application strategy. The school has formal partnerships with Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, and Imperial College London, providing mentoring and enrichment opportunities for students aspiring to these institutions.

The enrichment offer is purposefully structured around six pillars: crafts, languages and communication, performing arts, sport, STEM, and other interests. The school deliberately responded to pupil feedback that younger students wanted broader extracurricular options, and the range now reflects genuine student demand rather than tokenism.

Music: Active and Accessible

Students have access to keyboard club (for GCSE candidates), school choir, bands, and the Music Technology Club, where pupils learn industry-standard Logic X Pro software to compose and produce their own work. Student performance is showcased in assemblies and in the annual Creative Arts Showcase. All Key Stage 3 and 4 students attend a live orchestral performance in autumn term, introducing classical repertoire and fostering cultural capital. Year 8 explores the history of blues and African American music, enriching understanding beyond notes on a page.

Drama: Professional Standards

Drama Club runs at lunchtime for younger students, building confidence through devising and performance. From Year 8 onwards, students can pursue LAMDA qualifications (Speech and Drama), offering externally recognised certifications. Year 10 and 11 students attend live theatre at venues including Shakespeare's Globe Theatre; the Globe Players perform in-school productions like "Romeo and Juliet" to develop students' ability to critique live performance. This bridges school-based learning and professional theatre practice.

STEM: Rigorous and Broad

Computer Science sees Years 7 and 8 working towards iDEA Bronze and Silver Awards, combining digital, enterprise, and employability skills. CyberFirst Girls Development Days (National Cyber Security, GCHQ-sponsored) offer Year 8 and 9 girls hands-on experience in Digital Forensics, Cryptography, and Penetration Testing alongside inspirational speakers from the cyber industry. Years 7 and 8 participate in the Step into the NHS Competition, investigating NHS career pathways. The Astronomy Club (added recently) provides hands-on telescope experience observing planets, stars, and the Moon, with sessions covering space missions, the solar system, and galaxies. Club projects include planetarium visits and guest speakers. CREST Science Club, Chemistry Club, and Olympiad competitions (Biology, Physics, Chemistry) stretch high-achieving scientists into advanced problem-solving. Design Technology encompasses Photography Club, Sewing Club, Animation Club, Origami Club, and Sculpture Club; Year 8 students join Wembley Bake-Off Club.

Sports: Comprehensive and Competitive

The PE department offers over 20 lunchtime and after-school clubs weekly, spanning cross-country running, volleyball, football, cricket, basketball, acrobatics, cheerleading, and fitness. Students represent the school in borough competitions year-round. Whether developing skills, competing, or enjoying team membership, the programme ensures variety.

Languages and Enrichment Beyond Curriculum

The Mandarin Club draws on strong connections with the Confucius Institute; a dedicated Mandarin teacher offers extracurricular lessons where students practise listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a supportive environment, learning tonal systems and character writing. French trips to Paris are organised for Key Stage 4. Spanish Creative Writing Club, Italian Club, and weekly language tutorials for Year 12 A-level students enhance linguistic competence. The Brilliant Club offers a unique experience: students work with PhD tutors on university-style research, completing dissertations marked using university grading. Participants attend graduations at Russell Group universities (e.g., Wadham College, Oxford), touring campus and meeting current students.

Broader Enrichment

Duke of Edinburgh Awards run at Bronze (Year 9), Silver (Year 10), and Gold (Sixth Form) levels; the school is among England's largest DofE participants with nearly 300 pupils yearly. The scheme develops resilience, independence, and teamwork through skills, volunteering, physical activity, and expedition components. First Story provides writing mentorship. The History and Humanities Club includes Time Travellers Club (Year 7-9) and History and Politics Society (Year 12-13) with guest speaker programmes. Geoscience Club and Orienteering supplement Year 12-13 fieldwork in South Wales (three-day residential trips covering coastal geomorphology and urban deprivation) and Year 9-10 residential trips to Iceland. Psychology Society conducts independent research projects. Religious Studies and Philosophy are enriched through Humanities Club, exploring interdisciplinary links between RS, Geography, and History.

Currently running clubs include: Aerobics, Animation, Architecture, Art History, Astronomy, Baking, Basketball, Bollywood Dance, Brilliant Club, Cheerleading, Chess, Choir, Cross-country, CREST Science, Cricket, Drama, First Story, Football, French, Friendship (for SEND pupils), Geoscience, Humanities, HIIT Workout, Italian, LAMDA, Mandarin, Martial Arts, Mental Health Society, Netball, Origami, Photography, Rubik's Cube, Sewing/Textile, Spanish Creative Writing, Sparx, Spelling & Translation Bee, Sustainability, UK Maths Challenge, and Wonderlab Science Club.

Libraries open 8:00am-4:00pm daily. The Sixth Form Library and Café extend until 5:00pm for student study.

Wembley High Technology College is a comprehensive, non-selective secondary academy serving ages 11-19. Admissions to Year 7 are managed through the local authority (Brent) coordinated admissions process. The school is heavily oversubscribed; 4.86 applications competed for each place in recent years, with the last distance offered at 6.3 miles in 2024. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. Parents should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check their precise distance relative to the last distance offered. After looked-after children and those with EHCPs, places are allocated by distance from the school gates. There is no formal catchment boundary; entry is based strictly on proximity.

The sixth form admits students based on GCSE performance and subject-specific requirements. Most subjects require grade 5 or above at GCSE; some demand grade 6 or higher. The school encourages applications from state school pupils and other sixth-form students. Entry is relatively accessible compared to grammar schools or traditional independents, reflecting the school's comprehensive mission.

Mental health is actively supported. Students are encouraged to prioritise wellbeing and are taught strategies to manage anxiety and stress. A dedicated counsellor visits weekly, providing additional emotional support. Sixth-formers take visible leadership roles, becoming mentors and role models. The school council reflects and acts on student voice; recent feedback prompted the expansion of enrichment clubs.

SEND support is integrated. Staff know individual pupils' needs well. Subject specialists provide differentiated teaching. The Friendship Club offers two activities daily (one at lunch, one after school) for SEND students — Art Club and Film Screening, or Just Dance and Craft & Film, for example. Homework Club provides subject-based drop-in support.

Behaviour expectations are high but fairly enforced. Incidents of bullying are rare; when they occur, swift, transparent responses reassure students that their safety is prioritised.

School day runs 8:50am to 3:20pm. The school is located five minutes walk from on-site parking. On-site parking is available for parent visits, and the school sits reasonably close to public transport (Wembley Park station is nearby). While not immediately adjacent to public transport, the location is accessible to families across North West London via bus and car.

Heavily oversubscribed. Entry is strictly by distance from the school gates. Last distance offered was 6.3 miles in 2024, though this fluctuates. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. Families must verify their precise distance before relying on a place. For day-to-day living, some families at the furthest edge of the admissions radius may experience substantial travel times.

Non-selective intake requires the school to balance breadth with stretch. While results are strong, the non-selective model means students arrive with a wider range of starting points than selective grammars. The school's consistent success across this diverse cohort is noteworthy, but families seeking highly competitive peer groups throughout should note this context.

Younger students show lower uptake of extracurricular clubs. Ofsted noted that while the range has expanded, younger pupils (below sixth form) are initially reluctant to engage widely outside academic interests. The school is actively addressing this through student voice, but enrichment remains something families may need to encourage their children to embrace.

Wembley High Technology College has earned its reputation as Brent's outstanding non-selective secondary. Results rival those of selective schools elsewhere, yet entry depends purely on distance, not academic selection. The curriculum is ambitious and carefully sequenced; teaching is precise and expert; behaviour is exemplary; safeguarding is robust. The sixth form is particularly strong, preparing students effectively for Russell Group and Oxbridge entry. Facilities have been modernised substantially, and enrichment has expanded meaningfully.

Best suited to families within the admissions distance who want genuinely rigorous comprehensive education without selection pressure on primary pupils. The main challenge is securing a place. For families living closer, the investment pays dividends: a top-performing education in a supportive, multinational environment where academic excellence coexists with care for wellbeing and personal development.