Hampstead School Review 2026: Inclusive West Hampstead Comprehensive with Strong Community Ethos

Hampstead School occupies a building with deep historical roots in West Hampstead, originally home to Haberdashers' Aske's Hampstead School from 1903 until 1961, when the current school was founded as a secondary modern before evolving into a comprehensive. Today, this mixed, non-selective state secondary school and sixth form serves approximately 1,300 students aged 11 to 18, drawing from over 70 primary schools across Camden, Brent, and Barnet. The school's motto, "Think Big, Work Hard, Be Kind," underpins its commitment to inclusive education within a safe, ambitious environment. Rated Good across all categories by Ofsted in April 2023, Hampstead School emphasises sophisticated critical thought and effort, offering a diverse curriculum and extensive extracurricular opportunities. Headteacher Matthew Sadler first joined as an NQT in 2006 and returned to lead in 2020; the review credits him with steering a socioeconomically diverse community with a strong ethos of ambition and self‑improvement.

Founded in 1961 as a secondary modern and later incorporating Harben Secondary Modern School in Kilburn, Hampstead School became a comprehensive serving the West Hampstead area. The main building retains its historic façade displaying the old Latin motto "Is est emendo; tendo quod macula iocus notitia," meaning "To correct faults, give direction and impart knowledge." The school's current identity centres on the values embedded in its motto: "Think Big, Work Hard, Be Kind," fostering sophisticated critical thought and recognising the crucial importance of effort.

The school aims to nurture independence while providing tailored support, enabling students to develop confidence and respect. Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning, with recognition of their unique skills and talents. The environment is designed to help learners become independent, thoughtful, and proactive, developing enquiring minds and making the most of opportunities to grow morally, spiritually, culturally, and socially.

Matthew Sadler's leadership since 2020 builds on his long connection to the school. Before returning as headteacher, he served as an assistant head in Chiswick and deputy head in Sutton, bringing external perspective to his deep understanding of Hampstead's community. He succeeded Jacques Szemalikowski, one of Camden's longest-serving heads, who led the school from 2006 until retirement. Sadler's emphasis on resilience and determination reflects his understanding of the challenges students face, particularly those cohorts affected by COVID-19 disruptions.

The school is described as totally non-selective on ability, with an intake from three London boroughs: approximately 20 per cent from Camden, and 40 per cent each from Brent and Barnet. This geographical spread creates a diverse community, and the school has won awards for its curriculum extension and summer school programmes. Students speak of a sense of community where nobody is left out, with clubs and activities bringing people together and creating new friendships.

Hampstead School's academic profile reflects the challenges and successes of a genuinely comprehensive intake. At GCSE, the school's Attainment 8 score of 41.At GCSE, Attainment 8 is 41.2 (below the national picture), and 43% achieve grade 5+ in English and maths — compared with roughly 50% across Camden. The school's Progress 8 score of -0.46 indicates that students make less progress than might be expected based on their prior attainment, though this measure is influenced by intake characteristics and contextual factors. The EBacc entry rate is 7.9 per cent, reflecting curriculum choices that may prioritise vocational and creative pathways over the traditional academic suite.

In recent results, individual success stories highlight the school's capacity to support high achievers: students such as Samira Mohamed Ali and Viktoria Stoyanova each achieved five grade 9s and five grade 8s in their GCSEs. Headteacher Matthew Sadler has emphasised pride in the cohort's achievements, noting that the 2024 Year 11 group faced unique challenges, having left primary school during lockdown and started secondary education in bubbles, yet they thrived despite difficult circumstances.

At A-level, the picture is similarly mixed. The proportion of A*-B grades stands at 28.4 per cent, below the national average of approximately 47 per cent, with A* grades at 2.5 per cent and A grades at 8.3 per cent. These figures place the school below the national averages for A*-A (23.6 per cent) and A*-B. However, individual student destinations demonstrate ambition and breadth: Jacob Forbes achieved an A and two Bs and is studying computer games development at Staffordshire University, while Shania Sukul achieved two A*s and a C and is reading architecture at University College London.

The school operates a Hampstead School Advanced Programme offering bespoke support for students aspiring to Oxbridge and Russell Group universities. Performing arts and media students benefit from close links with venues such as Camden Roundhouse, and aspiring medics receive tailored support to strengthen applications. Recent cohorts have secured placements at prestigious destinations including RAF apprenticeships, Russell Group universities, and roles at major firms such as JP Morgan and KPMG. Individual highlights include pathways in aerospace engineering, game design, and creative writing.

Curriculum delivery is organised by faculties, with dedicated examination support and a strong emphasis on diverse, creative curricula. The school has won awards for curriculum extension and summer school provision, reflecting investment in enrichment beyond the standard timetable. Students develop confidence and a love of learning, accessing a wide range of academic, social, sporting, and cultural opportunities.

The school's approach to support and safeguarding is emphasised through dedicated pastoral resources. The sixth form offers personalised guidance to help students make informed, aspirational choices about their futures, with programmes including the Google AI Campus, the Future Leaders Programme with Oxford University, and mentoring, cultural trips, and professional workshops.

Extracurricular life at Hampstead School is extensive, though participation is noted to decline as pupils progress through the school. Clubs include Debate Club, Chess Club, Coding Club, and Eco Club, alongside sports teams in football, basketball, athletics, and other competitive and recreational sports. Performing arts activities include school productions, choir, drama club, and music ensembles, with technology clubs and after-school sessions in music and drama studios.

The annual International Arts Festival, held in 2024, promotes cultural diversity and student creativity through collaborative events, raising over £2,400 for pupils in financial need. The Debate Club, supervised by English department staff, competes nationally across the United Kingdom and internationally in Germany, preparing students for standalone oratory challenges and building confidence in delivering persuasive, structured speeches.

The main school building on Westbere Road is one of West Hampstead's oldest structures, blending historic architecture with modern facilities. The school hall is available for hire evenings and weekends, and dedicated grounds and facilities support a broad curriculum and enrichment programme. Specific details of specialist spaces are available through the school's resources pages, though the emphasis on performing arts, music technology, and drama suggests investment in creative infrastructure.

Hampstead School's Oxbridge record reflects the reality of a non-selective comprehensive serving a diverse intake. Over recent cycles, 1 student secured an Oxbridge place, with 10 applications yielding 1 offer and 1 acceptance. The single acceptance was to Cambridge, with no Oxford offers in the most recent data. These modest numbers place the school at 1,127th nationally for combined Oxbridge outcomes.

Broader university destinations show that 79 per cent of students progress to higher education or training, with 23 per cent joining Russell Group universities. Including Oxbridge, nearly a quarter of leavers attend the UK's most selective institutions, a notable achievement for a non-selective state school. The Hampstead School Advanced Programme provides targeted support for Oxbridge and Russell Group applicants, with bespoke guidance for medics and other competitive courses. Partnerships with organisations such as the Google AI Campus and the Future Leaders Programme with Oxford University offer enrichment and mentoring.

Students leave Hampstead School Sixth Form for a wide variety of destinations including university, drama school, arts college, and apprenticeships. The range of pathways reflects the school's commitment to helping each student find the route that suits their talents and ambitions, whether academic, vocational, or creative.

Hampstead School follows Camden Local Authority admissions procedures in line with Department for Education policy. Applications for Year 7 entry must be made directly to the school admissions office of the borough in which the applicant lives. Outcome notifications are sent by local authorities at the beginning of March. The deadline for September 2026 entry was 31 October 2025, though late applications are accepted.

The school is significantly oversubscribed. In 2023, 461 applications were received for approximately 186 places, yielding around 2.5 applications per place. Of these, 187 applications came from Camden, with 78 offers made to Camden residents, while 274 applications from other local authorities resulted in 108 offers. This pattern indicates that the school draws heavily from Brent and Barnet, with places distributed across a wide geographical area.

Oversubscription criteria can include distance from the school, priority for siblings, and other factors determined by Camden's admissions policy. Living in an area where children have previously attended the school does not guarantee admission in future years, and families are advised to check current admission arrangements. No published data on the furthest distance offered is available in the most recent admissions round, reflecting variability in demand and distribution of applicants.

Families who are unsuccessful may elect to appeal. Appeals should be directed to Camden Local Authority Admissions on 020 7974 1625. Prospective applicants are encouraged to consult Camden's determined admission arrangements for the relevant academic year and to visit the school's admissions page at hampsteadschool.org.uk/admissions for up-to-date guidance.

Hampstead School is a genuinely comprehensive, non-selective state secondary serving a diverse intake from across three London boroughs. Its ethos of "Think Big, Work Hard, Be Kind" is not a marketing slogan but a working philosophy, embedded in a community that values inclusion, effort, and ambition for all. The school's academic results place it below national averages at both GCSE and A-level, with a Progress 8 score indicating challenges in maximising outcomes relative to prior attainment. However, individual success stories and a breadth of university, apprenticeship, and creative destinations demonstrate that Hampstead School supports students to achieve their potential across a wide range of pathways.

Matthew Sadler's leadership, rooted in his long connection to the school and enriched by external experience, has maintained a stable, improvement-focused culture. The school's investment in curriculum extension, summer schools, and bespoke support for Oxbridge and Russell Group applicants reflects ambition beyond the data. The International Arts Festival, Debate Club's national and international profile, and partnerships with organisations such as Camden Roundhouse and Oxford University's Future Leaders Programme signal a commitment to enrichment and opportunity.

For families seeking a truly comprehensive, inclusive environment with strong pastoral care and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, Hampstead School offers a community where effort and kindness are valued alongside academic achievement. For those prioritising high attainment data and Progress 8 scores, the school's profile may give pause. The school is significantly oversubscribed, drawing from a wide area, and families should be realistic about the competitive nature of admissions and the importance of meeting Camden's oversubscription criteria.

Hampstead School will suit families who value a diverse, non-selective community, a broad curriculum that includes vocational and creative pathways, and a culture that genuinely seeks to nurture every student's unique talents. It is a school where the motto is lived, and where the measure of success is not solely in league tables but in the range and ambition of the destinations students reach.

Is Hampstead School a good school?

Hampstead School was rated Good across all categories by Ofsted in April 2023, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision. The school serves a genuinely comprehensive, non-selective intake from over 70 primary schools across Camden, Brent, and Barnet. Academic results place it below national averages at GCSE and A-level, with a Progress 8 score of -0.46, though individual students achieve strong outcomes and the school supports a wide range of university, apprenticeship, and creative destinations. Families seeking a diverse, inclusive environment with strong pastoral care and extensive extracurricular opportunities often value what Hampstead School offers.

How do I apply to Hampstead School?

Applications for Year 7 entry must be made directly to the school admissions office of the borough in which you live, not to the school itself. The deadline for September 2026 entry was 31 October 2025, though late applications are accepted. You will receive your application outcome from your local authority at the beginning of March. Hampstead School follows Camden Local Authority admissions procedures, and oversubscription criteria may include distance from the school, sibling priority, and other factors. The school is significantly oversubscribed, with around 2.5 applications per place in 2023. For current admissions arrangements, visit camden.gov.uk/secondary-school-admissions or the school's admissions page at hampsteadschool.org.uk/admissions.

What are the school's exam results like?

At GCSE, Hampstead School's Attainment 8 score is 41. The Progress 8 score is -0.46, indicating students make less progress than might be expected based on prior attainment. At A-level, 28.4 per cent of grades are A*-B, with 2.5 per cent A* and 8.3 per cent A grades, below national averages. However, individual students achieve strong results, and the school supports a breadth of destinations including Russell Group universities (23 per cent of leavers), apprenticeships, and creative pathways.

Does Hampstead School have a sixth form?

Yes, Hampstead School has a sixth form serving students aged 16 to 18. The sixth form was rated Good by Ofsted in April 2023. Students follow A-level and vocational programmes, with 79 per cent progressing into higher education or training. The Hampstead School Advanced Programme offers bespoke support for students aspiring to Oxbridge and Russell Group universities, and the sixth form provides personalised guidance, partnerships with organisations such as the Google AI Campus and Oxford University's Future Leaders Programme, and links with venues such as Camden Roundhouse for performing arts students.

What extracurricular activities are available?

Hampstead School offers extensive extracurricular opportunities, though participation declines as pupils get older. Clubs include Debate Club (competing nationally and internationally), Chess Club, Coding Club, and Eco Club. Sports teams include football, basketball, and athletics. Performing arts activities include school productions, choir, drama club, and music ensembles, with music technology clubs and after-school drama studio sessions. The annual International Arts Festival promotes cultural diversity and student creativity, and the school has won awards for its curriculum extension and summer school programmes.

What is the school's catchment area?

Hampstead School does not operate a defined catchment area but follows Camden Local Authority admissions criteria. Admissions are fully non‑selective; the school draws from 70+ primaries across three boroughs, with the intake roughly 20% Camden and around 40% each from Brent and Barnet. In 2023, 461 applications were received for approximately 186 places, with 187 applications from Camden (78 offers) and 274 from other local authorities (108 offers). Oversubscription criteria may include distance from the school and sibling priority. Families should check Camden's determined admission arrangements for the relevant academic year, as living in an area where children have previously attended does not guarantee admission in future years.