Claremont High School Review 2026: A State Academy Delivering Consistent Excellence

In 1929, a small group of learners began lessons in temporary huts on the edge of London's suburban sprawl. Today, Claremont High School occupies a modern, purpose-built campus in Kenton where nearly 1,700 students benefit from decades of accumulated expertise and substantial recent investment. The school has earned Outstanding ratings from Ofsted at its last three consecutive inspections, most recently in March 2025. At GCSE, an attainment score of 55.5 places the school in the top 25% in England (FindMySchool ranking), with students achieving well above national averages. The sixth form maintains similar momentum at A-level, with 58% securing A*/A grades. For families seeking a genuinely comprehensive secondary education with strong results, supportive pastoral systems, and extensive performing arts opportunities, Claremont delivers on all three fronts.

The school's physical campus tells the story of deliberate evolution. The original Victorian-era buildings have been complemented by a series of purposeful expansions: a state-of-the-art sports hall named after former deputy head Clive Ridgeon; a modern canteen complex called Monty's, completed in 2010; a two-storey teaching block with lecture theatre added in 2014; and most recently, a completely refurbished sixth form centre with dedicated study spaces and a new fitness suite. From the Greenway entrance, the atmosphere is neither pressured nor laissez-faire, but purposeful. Students move between lessons with clear direction. The specialist music facilities remain visible across the campus, evidence of the school's 2001 designation as an Arts College.

Ms Nicola Hyde-Boughey, who took the helm as Headteacher in 2018, has presided over this latest phase of development. Previously Executive Head of Chrysalis Multi-Academy Trust (which the school founded in 2017), she has continued the trajectory established by her predecessor Terry Molloy, who led the school for 18 years before retiring in 2018. The school remains part of CMAT, serving as the lead institution within a growing trust.

The school's stated values, Respect, Resilience, Responsibility, and Aspiration, are not merely posters in corridors but actively referenced by both staff and students in decision-making. A diverse cohort of over 1,600 pupils, with 45% speaking English as an additional language and representation across 20 ethnic backgrounds, creates a genuinely multicultural learning environment. This diversity is reflected in the school's explicit commitment to equalities and the work of its Diversity Board.

GCSE Performance

In 2024, 54% of pupils achieved grades 7 and above, compared to the England average of 54%. This alignment conceals important nuance: an attainment 8 score of 55.5 sits above the England average, positioning the school in the top 25% in England (FindMySchool ranking). Locally, Claremont ranks 5th among Harrow's secondary schools, reflecting consistent, reliable performance rather than volatility. The Progress 8 score of +0.59 indicates pupils make meaningfully above-average progress from their starting points, a particularly important measure when considering the school's comprehensive intake.

The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) entry is notably high at 43%, with 43% achieving grades 5 or above, well above the national figure of 41%. This breadth of curriculum, combining core academics with languages, sciences, and humanities, reflects the school's comprehensive philosophy.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form maintains academic momentum. At A-level, 58% of entries achieved A*-B grades, compared to the England average of 47%, placing the school well above the England baseline. The distribution shows balance: 12% at A*, 19% at A, and 27% at B. These results underpin the 78% university progression rate among 2024 leavers, with over 90% typically progressing to higher education.

Of particular significance, students have demonstrated strong success in competitive university applications. The school operates an Aspire Programme providing intensive support for those aiming at Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science. In September 2025, 44% of sixth form leavers secured Russell Group places. The raw Oxbridge numbers tell their own story: nine applications with one Cambridge acceptance in recent cycles. While modest in absolute terms, this reflects the school's successful channelling of genuinely competitive students toward the universities most suited to them.

The curriculum is structured across three distinct phases. At Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9), students follow a broad programme encompassing English, Mathematics, Sciences (taught separately for higher ability pupils), Modern Foreign Languages, Humanities, Performing Arts, and Physical Education. French is offered from Year 7, with Spanish available at Key Stage 4. The school's specialist designations in Performing Arts, Mathematics, and Computing are evident in dedicated subject blocks and enhanced equipment provision.

From Year 9, options allow greater personalisation. The school offers a full range of GCSE subjects including separate sciences, Further Mathematics, and vocational qualifications through BTEC. At A-level, provision extends to over 30 subjects including Further Mathematics, German, all major sciences, and Drama & Theatre Studies. Significantly, the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is offered in Year 12, with a dedicated coordinator overseeing student engagement in independent research.

Teaching is described by recent Ofsted inspection as consistently strong. Teachers demonstrate subject expertise and, notably, many are themselves examiners or lead examiners in their fields, ensuring assessment familiarity informs pedagogy. Sixth form classes are deliberately kept small, typically under 10 for A-level sets, enabling personalised attention. The school operates a clear attainment banding system, ensuring appropriate challenge across the ability range. After-school support sessions and drop-in clinics are standard provision, particularly intensive during examination seasons.

The integration of pastoral and academic support is deliberate. Each student has a personal form tutor who oversees progress and wellbeing. The school employs a UCAS Coordinator, a Future University Success Coordinator, and a Head of Pastoral Care in the sixth form, ensuring no student navigates university applications alone. For sixth form students, mentors meet regularly for one-to-one progress reviews.

Consistently, over 90% of sixth form leavers progress to higher education. The destinations data from 2024 shows 78% to university, 1% to further education, 3% to apprenticeships, and 4% to employment, figures reflecting a genuinely selective cohort and the school's intensive university preparation.

The university pipeline is competitive. Beyond Oxbridge, students secure places regularly at Imperial College, UCL, Durham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Warwick, and the London School of Economics. The school maintains specific tracking of Russell Group destinations, with 44% of recent leavers placing at these institutions. Medicine remains consistently popular, with 8 students per cohort typically securing medical school places in recent years. Psychology, engineering, finance, and law are equally well-represented.

The school's support infrastructure significantly differentiates outcomes. The Aspire Programme runs parallel to mainstream sixth form provision, providing mock interviews with senior staff and governors, coaching on personal statements, and trips to university taster days at Oxford, Cambridge, and UCL. Year 12 students attend the Universities and Apprenticeships Fair in London. Subject teachers write references; the UCAS Coordinator reviews personal statements multiple times. For those applying to medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, or Oxbridge, an earlier UCAS deadline (October 15th rather than January 15th) triggers additional intensive support.

Claremont is a comprehensive school with no selective entrance examination for Year 7 entry. Admissions follow standard Local Authority coordinated procedures through the online Apply portal. The school is significantly oversubscribed. In 2024, 3.66 applications were received for every place offered (the last distance offered was 3.85 miles), meaning families living beyond this radius had minimal chance of gaining a Year 7 place. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. Distance from the school gates remains the primary criterion after looked-after children and siblings.

Sixth form entry is more accessible. While internal progression for current pupils is routine (conditional on achieving specified GCSE point scores), external candidates are welcome. The application window opens November 28th 2025 and closes January 16th 2026. Offers are made subject to achieving minimum GCSE average points scores, which vary by subject. Popular subjects like Medicine preparation require higher entry thresholds. The sixth form currently hosts approximately 200 students per year group, drawn from Claremont and surrounding schools.

The school benefits from proximity to excellent transport links. Kingsbury Station (Jubilee line) is a 10-minute walk away; Kenton Station a 15-20 minute walk. The 183 bus route serves the corner of Claremont Avenue directly.

Music: Performing Arts Specialism

Performing arts lie at the heart of Claremont's identity, evidenced by the 2001 Arts College designation and ongoing investment in facilities. Specialist music instruction is available in piano, strings, woodwind, brass, singing, guitar, and drums, delivered by specialist teachers. The school maintains flourishing ensemble provision including orchestras, brass ensembles, woodwind groups, and a chapel choir. These groups perform regularly throughout the year at whole-school events and local venues.

Recent school concerts showcase this vibrancy. The annual school production rotates through significant productions: previous offerings include The Addams Family, Matilda, Grease, We Will Rock You, The Wiz, Hairspray Jr., Mary Poppins Jr., and Joseph. These productions involve full orchestras, substantial casts, and technical crews, requiring months of rehearsal across lunchtime and after-school sessions. The ambition is genuine, these are not modest school concert hall affairs but fully realised theatrical productions with sets, lighting, sound, and costume.

At A-level, Drama & Theatre Studies attracts strong uptake. The department was awarded Outstanding Drama Department status at the Music and Drama Education Awards 2022. A-level students access professionally-led workshops in Frantic Assembly, Trestle Masks, Punchdrunk Immersive Theatre, stage combat, and Greek theatre, taught by specialists who bring current industry practice into the classroom. The drama curriculum emphasises both performance and theatre-making as analytical disciplines. Past students have progressed to specialist drama institutions including Mount View Academy of Theatre Arts, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and drama programmes at Warwick, Hull, and Oxford.

Sports Facilities & Provision

The Sports Hall, opened in 2008 and named after Clive Ridgeon, provides basketball courts and indoor training space. The campus includes a main sports field, multiple outdoor pitches, a gymnasium, and MUGA (multi-use games area). Most significantly, two all-weather astroturf pitches with floodlighting and dedicated cricket practice nets were completed in 2021, enabling winter training and evening fixtures. These facilities host competitive fixtures in rugby, hockey, football, cricket, badminton, and tennis. The school competes in Harrow leagues and beyond.

A notable alumnus provides historic connection to sport: Stuart Pearce, the former England and Nottingham Forest footballer, attended Claremont in the 1970s. Today, the school offers Duke of Edinburgh Awards reaching Gold level, active participation in cross-country and athletics, and widespread access to competitive sport across both mainstream and sixth form provision.

Clubs & Societies

The school publishes that over 30 clubs operate each term, with lunchtime and after-school options rotating seasonally. Sixth form students frequently lead clubs, mentoring younger peers. The co-curricular programme explicitly encourages student-led initiatives, with students enabled to propose new clubs.

Named clubs currently include: Badminton Club, Cooking and Baking Club, Coding Club, Chess Club, Debate Club, Eco Schools, and Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme (running to Gold). Library services employ student mentors. The school operates an active Charities programme through which students engage with local causes including support for St Luke's Hospice. Community service includes volunteer teaching of numeracy and literacy in partner primary schools.

The Sixth Form Centre, opened in 2023, includes dedicated spaces for study (silent and collaborative areas), social relaxation, and a café, creating a distinct sixth form culture. A new fitness suite within this development enables extended health and wellbeing offerings.

STEM & Technology

As a Centre of Excellence in Mathematics and Computing (designated 2006), the school maintains particular strength in these subjects. The school website identifies Computer Science, Further Mathematics, and Physics as particularly high-achieving A-level subjects. Year 12 students have participated in research programmes including SCAMP (investigating the impact of mobile phones and social media), run in partnership with Imperial College London. This provides genuine research experience beyond the standard curriculum.

The school integrates coding and computer science across year groups, with a dedicated Computing/ICT curriculum and clubs supporting computational thinking and application development.

The school was specifically commended by Ofsted 2015 inspectors for the "considerable maturity and high level of social responsibility" demonstrated by sixth form students, who serve as deliberate role models for younger pupils. This culture is maintained through clear structure: form tutors meet regularly with form groups; pastoral leaders monitor attendance and wellbeing; and Place2Be provides additional counselling support.

First language diversity is actively supported through an EAL (English as an Additional Language) team. Students from non-English-speaking backgrounds receive targeted support, ensuring language development does not become a barrier to curriculum access.

Safeguarding systems are robust. The school has a designated safeguarding lead team; relevant staff receive regular training; and a confidential reporting system (Whisper) enables students to raise concerns anonymously. The absence rate at 17% persistent absence is below England average, suggesting students feel motivated to attend.

Free school meals are provided for eligible families (15% of the cohort in 2024). The canteen, refurbished and expanded in 2010, offers nutritious options in a pleasant space. Meal costs for those not eligible for free provision are administered through the ParentPay system.

The school day runs from 8:50am to 3:20pm for pupils in Years 7-11. Sixth form timetabling is slightly more flexible, with staggered start times to accommodate the reduced contact hours at A-level. The school does not provide before or after-school care, though external providers operate from the campus for wraparound provision.

The campus is accessible by public transport: Kingsbury Station (10-minute walk, Jubilee line) offers excellent connectivity. Alternatively, Kenton Station (15-20 minute walk) provides District line access. The 183 bus serves Claremont Avenue directly. Parking is available on-site for those arriving by car. The school is situated on the A4006, approximately 20-25 minutes from the North Circular Road.

Uniform is required. Students wear blazers, ties, and formal dress; sixth form dress code is more relaxed, requiring "smart business" attire.

Oversubscription: Entry by distance is fiercely competitive. With 3.66 applications per place, proximity to the school gates is essential. Families living beyond 3.85 miles from the school should not rely on gaining a place. The last distance offered varies annually depending on sibling admissions and applicant distribution; verification of current distance is essential before purchasing property or committing to the school.

Comprehensive intake creates mixed-ability teaching. While the school's value-added progress measures are strong, some families accustomed to grammar school education may experience a culture shock when encountering mixed-ability classes. The school uses setting in mathematics from Year 4, but not all subjects operate strict setting. This is pedagogically defensible, research on mixed-ability teaching is nuanced, but represents a different educational philosophy from selective schools.

Sixth form expansion potential. With approximately 200 students per year group entering sixth form, external candidates face competition for popular subjects. Mathematics, sciences, and English are heavily oversubscribed; more niche A-levels (German, Psychology, Sociology) offer greater availability.

Claremont delivers the comprehensive education it promises: strong results without selection, supported by thoughtful pastoral systems, genuine performing arts provision, and intensive university preparation for those aiming highest. Three consecutive Outstanding Ofsted ratings validate the school's execution. The campus investment, new sixth form centre, fitness suite, astroturf pitches, demonstrates institutional commitment to ongoing improvement rather than complacency on previous laurels.

Best suited to families seeking a genuine comprehensive education with above-average results and extensive extracurricular opportunities, particularly those with interests in music, drama, or STEM. The main barrier is admission itself; securing a place demands living within the very tight catchment or having siblings already on roll. For those within distance, Claremont represents strong value and a genuinely broad educational experience.