Bentley Wood High School

Bentley Wood High School is an all-girls comprehensive academy serving students aged 11 to 18 in Stanmore, within the London Borough of Harrow. With approximately 1,400 students on roll and a Published Admission Number of 240 for Year 7, the school operates at near capacity. Originally known as Heriots Wood Grammar School, it converted to academy status in 2011 and now forms the heart of The Bentley Wood Trust. The school specialises in mathematics, science, and computing, a focus that shapes both curriculum and culture. Every student studies a modern foreign language through to GCSE, ensuring full access to the English Baccalaureate pathway. The November 2023 Ofsted inspection rated the school Outstanding in all categories, including sixth form provision.

The school occupies a site on Clamp Hill, just south of Bentley Wood Nature Reserve and north of the A410. The setting provides a sense of separation from the urban intensity of central Harrow while remaining accessible by public transport. The buildings combine older structures with modern additions, housing two indoor sports halls, extensive playing fields, and specialist facilities for the school's STEM focus.

Ms Naseema Akbar has led the school since September 2022, succeeding Janice Howkins who guided the school through its academy conversion and previous Outstanding inspection in 2012. Under the current leadership, the school maintains its core values summarised as CARE: Communication, Achievement, Respect, and Empathy. These principles appear throughout school life, from behaviour policies to celebration assemblies.

The house system organises students into four groups named after classical elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. House competitions, charity initiatives, and inter-house events create vertical connections across year groups. Staff describe a cooperative atmosphere where high expectations coexist with genuine support. Students at this school develop into confident and caring young people.

The multicultural character is striking. Students arrive from a wide range of primary schools across Harrow and beyond, representing numerous ethnic backgrounds, languages, and traditions. The school celebrates this diversity through Cultural Week and other events that showcase different heritages. Far from treating diversity as a challenge to manage, the school positions it as an educational asset that prepares students for life in a globalised world.

GCSE Results

Academic outcomes place Bentley Wood firmly among Harrow's strongest state schools. The school ranks 666th in England for GCSE results (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), positioning it comfortably in the top 25% of secondary schools in England. Locally, the school ranks 6th among secondary schools in Harrow.

The average Attainment 8 score of 56.6 significantly exceeds the England average. Progress 8 tells an equally impressive story: at +0.9, students make substantially more progress than expected based on their Key Stage 2 starting points. This places Bentley Wood among the highest value-added schools in the borough.

The English Baccalaureate average point score of 5.4 reflects the school's insistence that all students study languages through to GCSE. This policy ensures breadth alongside depth, preparing students for both further study and the linguistic demands of international careers.

A-Level Results

The sixth form achieves solid outcomes, with 60% of A-level grades at A*-B and approximately 33% at A*/A. The school ranks 713th in England for A-level results (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile). Within Harrow, the sixth form ranks 10th among providers.

These figures deserve context. The sixth form operates as part of the Harrow Sixth Form Collegiate, a partnership of six high schools and Harrow College that expands subject choice beyond what any single institution could offer. Students can access courses across multiple sites, gaining independence while benefiting from specialist teaching in each location.

The 2025 results saw 83% of grades at C or above. BTEC students performed exceptionally, with all achieving Distinction or Distinction* grades. Many students secured A*/A grades across three or more A-level subjects.

Leaders have constructed an ambitious curriculum with clear intent. The specialist designation in mathematics, science, and computing translates into enhanced facilities, additional staff expertise, and enrichment opportunities that extend beyond examination requirements. Sciences are taught separately from Year 7, allowing deeper engagement with each discipline.

The insistence that all students study a modern foreign language through to Year 11 distinguishes Bentley Wood from many comprehensives that allow languages to become optional. This policy ensures the full English Baccalaureate pathway remains accessible to every student, regardless of prior language experience.

Teaching follows clear structures. Teachers have strong subject knowledge and explain concepts clearly. Students speak enthusiastically about their learning, describing lessons that challenge without overwhelming. The school sets high expectations for both behaviour and achievement, creating classrooms where focused study is the norm rather than the exception.

For students with special educational needs, the school provides tailored support. The SEND register includes students across a range of needs, each receiving personalised intervention while remaining fully included in mainstream lessons wherever appropriate.

The sixth form's destination data reveals strong progression to higher education. In the 2023/24 cohort of 127 students, 72% progressed to university, exceeding the England average of 70%. A further 4% secured apprenticeships, combining earning with learning in competitive degree-level programmes.

Among university entrants, 25% secured places at Russell Group institutions, compared to the England average of 21%. The school ranks 443rd in England for combined Oxbridge outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), with 12 students applying to Oxford and Cambridge in the measurement period. Three received offers and one secured a place.

The school emphasises that success extends beyond traditional university routes. Career guidance begins early and continues throughout the sixth form. Students receive support for apprenticeship applications, including the prestigious degree apprenticeships offered by major employers. Employment outcomes (13% of leavers) reflect purposeful choices rather than failed aspirations.

Bentley Wood is a non-selective comprehensive with no formal catchment boundary. Harrow Council coordinates admissions for Year 7 entry. Applications open on 1 September for the following academic year, with a deadline of 31 October. National offer day falls on the first Monday of March.

The school is consistently oversubscribed. With 661 applications for 236 offers in the most recent admissions cycle, the subscription ratio of 2.8 indicates nearly three applications for every available place. The last distance offered was 1.681 miles in the most recent year. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

After places for looked-after children and those with Education, Health and Care Plans naming the school, the oversubscription criteria prioritise siblings and then distance from the school gates. Distance is measured in a straight line from the home address point to the school's centre point using Ordnance Survey data.

For sixth form entry, applications open in mid-November for the following September. External applicants apply through the online portal, with a deadline of 31 January. Entry requirements include minimum GCSE grades in chosen A-level subjects. The Harrow Sixth Form Collegiate arrangement means students can access courses at partner institutions while being enrolled at Bentley Wood.

Parents considering the school should use the FindMySchool Map Search to verify their precise distance from the school gates. Given the competitive admissions picture, accurate distance measurement matters considerably.

The school creates a safe, caring, stimulating environment where students develop a wide range of skills and interests. The CARE values permeate pastoral structures. Tutors know their students individually, monitoring academic progress alongside personal wellbeing.

The house system provides an additional layer of belonging. Students identify with their house, participating in competitions, charitable activities, and leadership opportunities that build confidence and community spirit. Vertical relationships between year groups allow older students to mentor younger ones.

Behaviour is excellent. The school sets high expectations and students respond accordingly. Inspectors observed exceptional focus in classrooms and calm, purposeful movement around the site. The behaviour policy references the school's values explicitly, making consequences meaningful rather than arbitrary.

Mental health support has expanded in recent years. Students can access counselling services, peer support programmes, and wellbeing resources. The personal development programme addresses relationships, health, citizenship, and careers in age-appropriate ways.

Learning extends well beyond examination preparation. The extracurricular programme offers breadth that belies the school's STEM specialisation. Sport flourishes, with netball, badminton, and football teams competing against other schools. The two indoor sports halls provide year-round facilities, with one featuring cricket nets, basketball courts, and a sprung wooden floor suitable for gymnastics and dance.

The creative arts maintain a strong presence. The annual school production attracts significant participation, with recent performances including The Addams Family. Music ensembles provide performance opportunities for instrumentalists and singers at various levels of experience.

Academic enrichment supplements the curriculum. Olympiad competitions in mathematics and sciences challenge the most able. Debating, public speaking, and essay competitions develop the communication skills valued by universities and employers alike. The school's specialism in computing opens pathways to coding clubs, robotics challenges, and digital creativity projects.

The enrichment timetable creates protected time for activities that might otherwise compete with academic demands. Thursday afternoons offer twilight sessions for younger year groups, extending the school day purposefully rather than simply adding homework hours.

The school day begins at 8:40am with tutor time. Lessons run until 3:10pm on most days, with Wednesday finishing at 3:15pm. The seven-period structure includes a mid-morning break and a lunch period that varies slightly by year group to manage canteen capacity.

Thursday twilight sessions run from 3:10pm to 4:00pm for Years 7, 8, and 9, providing structured enrichment opportunities. Total weekly contact time amounts to 32.5 hours.

Transport links serve the school reasonably well. The location on Clamp Hill sits between Stanmore and Harrow Weald, accessible by bus routes serving both areas. The school has a car park with 35 spaces, though most students arrive by public transport or on foot.

Oversubscription and distance. With nearly three applications for every place and a last distance offered of 1.681 miles, families living further from the school face uncertain prospects. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. Verify your distance carefully before relying on a place here.

Girls only environment. The single-sex setting suits many students but requires consideration. Some families prefer co-educational environments, particularly approaching sixth form when social dynamics shift. The Collegiate arrangement introduces some cross-school interaction but the core experience remains female-only.

Sixth form in context. While GCSE results place the school in the top 25% of England, A-level outcomes sit closer to the middle of the distribution. Students aiming for the most competitive university courses should ensure the sixth form offers appropriate stretch and challenge. The Collegiate arrangement expands options but involves travelling between sites.

STEM focus implications. The specialism in mathematics, science, and computing enriches provision for students drawn to these fields. Those with primary interests in humanities or creative arts will find good teaching but may encounter fewer enrichment opportunities in their passion areas.

Bentley Wood delivers exceptional value-added education in a supportive, diverse community. GCSE results consistently outperform expectations given intake characteristics, with Progress 8 scores among the strongest in Harrow. The Outstanding Ofsted rating reflects genuine quality across teaching, pastoral care, and leadership.

Best suited to girls seeking a comprehensive education that combines academic rigour with personal development. The STEM specialisation appeals to mathematically and scientifically inclined students, while the insistence on languages ensures breadth. The multicultural environment prepares students for diverse workplaces and communities.

The main challenge is securing a place. Families within approximately 1.5 miles face reasonable prospects; those further away should prepare alternatives. For students who gain admission, the education rivals many selective schools at no cost to families.