Swakeleys School for Girls Review 2026: High Progress in Hillingdon

Swakeleys School for Girls combines a modern, purpose-built campus in Ickenham with a fiercely ambitious academic culture. The headline Progress 8 score of +0.64 is the standout statistic here; it confirms that students make progress significantly well above the England average, regardless of their starting point. The school serves a diverse local community and holds a Good rating from Ofsted (2022), with inspectors praising the "strong academic outcomes" and settled atmosphere.

The first thing visitors notice is the building itself. Opened in 2017, the main school building is light, airy, and free from the peeling paint often associated with the state sector. It feels like a modern workplace, designed to signal that serious work happens here.

Ms Kelda Stevenson took up the substantive Headteacher post in April 2024, having known the school intimately as Acting Head and Deputy. Her leadership maintains the school's long-standing ethos of "Achievement for All". This isn't just a slogan; the atmosphere is purposeful but inclusive. The house system—featuring houses named after female pioneers like Austen, Curie, and Pankhurst—fosters a competitive spirit that is supportive rather than cutthroat.

Classrooms are calm. The school prides itself on high expectations for behaviour. It is a place where girls are encouraged to be vocal and ambitious; the student leadership team is highly visible and genuinely influential in school decisions.

Swakeleys delivers results that place it comfortably in the upper tiers of state education. In 2024, the school achieved a Progress 8 score of +0.64. In plain English, this means students achieve over half a grade higher in every subject compared to similar students nationally.

The school ranks 1,260th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and 11th in Hillingdon. While the raw attainment is solid—ranking in the top 27% of schools in England—the value-added data suggests the teaching adds significant weight to student outcomes.

At A-level, the picture remains steady. The school ranks 1,016th in England, sitting in the "national typical" band (top 40%). In 2024, over 56% of grades were A*-B. This solid performance ensures that the majority of students can access their first-choice universities.

The curriculum is broad and strictly academic. The school resists the trend to narrow subject choices early. At Key Stage 3, students cover the full range of arts, humanities, and sciences. By GCSE, there is a strong push towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), though the arts remain well-supported with excellent facilities.

Teaching is structured and consistent. The 2022 inspection noted that teachers have deep subject knowledge and use assessment effectively to check understanding. There is a particular strength in mathematics and science, challenging the stereotype that girls' schools focus heavily on the humanities.

The sixth form is a natural destination for many, though entry is not automatic. While officially co-educational, the sixth form remains predominantly female. In 2024, 71% of leavers progressed to university. Destinations are varied, reflecting the diverse intake. While many students head to solid Russell Group and Alliance universities, the school also supports entry to elite institutions.

In the most recent cycle, the school saw one successful Oxbridge acceptance from five applicants. One student headed to Cambridge, while others secured places at competitive London universities. The school provides structured support for UCAS applications, though families targeting the most competitive courses often supplement this with their own research.

Swakeleys is an academy but admissions are coordinated by the London Borough of Hillingdon. It is consistently oversubscribed. In the most recent intake, there were 512 applications for 234 places, a ratio of more than two applicants for every seat.

The school operates a "fair banding" system to ensure an intake with a balanced range of abilities. This means all applicants must sit a Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) test in the autumn term of Year 6.

Key steps for 2026 entry:

1. Register for the NVR test: Complete the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) by mid-September (typically around 19 September).
2. Sit the test: Usually held on a Saturday in early October.
3. Apply: Submit the Common Application Form (CAF) to Hillingdon Council by 31 October.

Places are allocated within each ability band based on criteria including looked-after status and siblings, with the majority decided by distance. Parents should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check their precise distance from the school gates compared to the last distance offered.

The pastoral system is organised by Year Group, with a Head of Year staying with their cohort as they move up the school. This ensures continuity; families get to know one key contact who understands their daughter's history.

Wellbeing is taken seriously. The "Hub" provides a space for students needing emotional support, and the school employs dedicated welfare staff. There is a clear recognition that academic pressure can be high, and the school works hard to balance this with mental health awareness weeks and peer mentoring programmes.

Extracurricular life is vibrant, with a strong emphasis on empowering girls to take up space in sport and the arts.

Sport

The 3G pitch and sports hall are heavily used. Netball and athletics are particular strengths, with teams competing regularly at borough level.

The Arts

The annual school production is a major calendar event, involving over 100 students in cast and crew. The Music department runs several ensembles, including a choir that performs in the local community.

Clubs

The list is extensive, ranging from the frantic energy of the Debate Mate club to the precision of the STEM club, where students have previously participated in engineering challenges.

The school is located on Clifton Gardens in Ickenham. It is well-served by public transport, with Ickenham (Metropolitan/Piccadilly) and West Ruislip (Central/Chiltern) stations nearby. The school day typically runs from 8:40am to 3:10pm. Uniform is strictly enforced, consisting of a navy blazer and kilt or trousers; parents should expect regular checks on skirt length and jewellery.

Single-sex environment. This is a girls-only environment from Year 7 to 11. Families seeking a mixed education, or those who feel their daughter might thrive better in a co-educational setting, will need to look elsewhere.

Oversubscription. With over two applications for every place, securing a seat is the primary hurdle. Families living outside the immediate locality should be realistic about their chances and have a solid backup plan.

Banding Test. The requirement to sit a test can be stressful for some 10-year-olds. It is important to reassure children that this is for banding, not pass/fail selection, though it is a necessary hoop to jump through.

Swakeleys School for Girls is a high-performing, modern state school that proves you do not need to pay fees to access a high-quality education. The facilities are top-tier, the leadership is settled, and the progress data is undeniable. Best suited to ambitious girls in the Hillingdon area who will thrive in a structured, single-sex environment that pushes them to exceed expectations. The main challenge is securing a place.