Deptford Green School Review 2026: A Creative Force in Lewisham

Sitting beside Fordham Park in New Cross, Deptford Green School makes a striking first impression. The award-winning building, with its vast glass frontage and open-plan "Grand Avenue," suggests an institution that looks outwards rather than inwards. This is a community school in the truest sense, serving a diverse slice of south-east London with an ethos that champions creativity and inclusivity alongside academic progress.

Rated Good by Ofsted in 2022, the school has gained momentum under the leadership of Ms Emma Thurston, who was appointed in September 2021. Her vision of "Greatness Within" has emphasised high expectations for behaviour and uniform, tightening structures while maintaining the school's historic warmth. While it does not have a sixth form, its results and pastoral care make it a competitive option in Lewisham, reflected in its consistent oversubscription. It is a school where the arts are not an afterthought but a central pillar of the curriculum.

The architecture of Deptford Green is distinct. Designed to foster community, the central atrium; known as the Grand Avenue; runs through the heart of the school, connecting different learning zones. This transparency prevents the closed-door culture often found in older secondary schools; learning here feels visible and shared. The atmosphere is energetic but generally purposeful, with the buzz of a London school contained within a space designed to handle it.

Ms Thurston's leadership has brought a renewed focus on academic rigour. Parents describe a palpable shift towards greater consistency in recent years. The student body is a microcosm of Lewisham: diverse, vibrant, and confident. The school celebrates this diversity explicitly through its curriculum and events, fostering a culture where students feel comfortable in their own skin. It is not a hush-hush academic hothouse; it is a place of debate, performance, and interaction.

The school motto, Catch the Wind in Your Sails: Explore, Dream, Discover, reflects a genuine engagement with opportunity. The "Green" in the name is not just a label but is reflected in the school's location next to the park and its modern, airy design.

Deptford Green’s academic performance reflects a school that adds value to its students. In 2024, the school achieved a Progress 8 score of +0.05. This positive figure indicates that students, on average, make slightly more progress here than they would in similar schools across England.

In terms of raw attainment, the school’s average Attainment 8 score was 44.6. While this sits just below the England average of 46.0, it must be viewed in the context of the school’s inclusive intake and positive progress measure.

Ranked 2160th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), the school sits in the "national typical" band, performing in line with the middle 35% of schools nationally. Locally, it ranks 10th among Lewisham secondary schools.

The school performs particularly well in creative subjects, though core subjects like English and Mathematics show steady outcomes. The curriculum is broad, maintaining a commitment to the arts even as other schools narrow their focus to the EBacc.

The curriculum is designed to be "knowledge-rich" but is delivered with a flair that reflects the school's creative specialism. Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) retains breadth, ensuring students study drama, music, art, and design technology alongside the core academic pillars.

Teaching quality is generally strong, with inspectors noting that teachers have good subject knowledge and plan lessons that build on prior learning. In English and Humanities, there is a focus on diverse texts that reflect the students' own lived experiences, making the curriculum feel relevant and engaging.

The school uses a "coaching" model for staff development, which ensures that teaching techniques remain fresh. Support for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) is robust, with teaching assistants effectively deployed in classrooms rather than hovering at the edges.

As an 11-16 school, Deptford Green does not have its own sixth form. This structure means the school focuses entirely on the main secondary phase, without the distraction of running post-16 provision.

Transition planning starts early. In Year 10 and 11, the careers team works intensively to guide students towards their next steps. The majority of leavers progress to local sixth form colleges and school sixth forms. Popular destinations include SFX (St Francis Xavier) Sixth Form College, Christ the King Sixth Forms, and Haberdashers' Hatcham College.

A significant number of students also pursue vocational and creative pathways at Goldsmiths (University of London) associated programmes or The Brit School, capitalising on the strong arts foundation laid during their five years here. The school ensures every student has a secure destination, with very few becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training).

Entry to Deptford Green is competitive. In 2024, the school was oversubscribed, receiving 588 applications for 167 places. This equates to approximately 3.5 applications per place, highlighting its popularity in the local area.

Admissions are coordinated by Lewisham Council. Crucially, the school operates a "Fair Banding" system. All applicants sit a non-verbal reasoning test (not a pass/fail exam) to place them into one of five ability bands. Places are then allocated equally across these bands to ensure a comprehensive intake.

Within each band, priority is given to:

1. Looked-after children.
2. Siblings of current students.
3. Distance from the school.

The last distance offered in 2024 was 2.41 miles. However, parents must understand that this distance can vary significantly between the different ability bands. A child in a less subscribed band might gain entry from further away, while a popular band might have a much tighter catchment. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

Parents should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to verify their location relative to the school and understand how banding might affect their likelihood of admission.

Pastoral care is a clear strength. The school operates a Year Group system, with Heads of Year staying with their cohort as they move up the school. This continuity allows staff to build deep relationships with families.

The "Place2Be" mental health support service is embedded within the school, offering counselling and emotional support to students who need it. This is not a token gesture but a fully integrated part of the school's safeguarding and wellbeing offer.

Bullying is taken seriously, with a clear reporting system and a focus on restorative justice; repairing relationships rather than just issuing sanctions. The inclusive ethos means that students generally report feeling safe and accepted for who they are.

Deptford Green refuses to be an exam factory. The extracurricular offer is extensive, particularly in the arts and sports.

The music department is vibrant, with practice rooms often full at breaktimes. The school choir and various bands perform regularly, both in the school’s theatre and at local community events. The annual school production is a major calendar event, involving dozens of students on stage and in technical roles.

Sport is well-catered for, thanks to the adjacent Fordham Park and on-site facilities including a sports hall and dance studio. Basketball and football teams compete locally with success.

Specific clubs include the "Debate Mate" team, which has a strong track record in London-wide competitions, and a thriving Coding Club. The school also runs the Duke of Edinburgh Award, encouraging resilience and independence.

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

Families on lower incomes may be eligible for Free School Meals, which also triggers Pupil Premium funding for the school. This funding is used to support academic progress and remove barriers to learning, such as subsidising school trips or music lessons. Parents are encouraged to check eligibility with Lewisham Council.

The school day typically runs from 8:40 am to 3:10 pm. The location on Edward Street is well-served by public transport; New Cross and New Cross Gate stations are a short walk away, providing Overground and National Rail links.

There is no on-site parking for parents, and the surrounding streets are subject to controls. Most students walk, cycle, or take the bus.

Uniform is strictly enforced under the new leadership: a green blazer, white shirt, and school tie. The school emphasises that the uniform should be worn with pride as a symbol of belonging to the community.

No Sixth Form: Students must change institutions at 16. While this allows the school to focus purely on the 11-16 journey, some families prefer the stability of an all-through 11-18 school where the stress of moving is avoided.

Fair Banding Complexity: The admissions system ensures a balanced intake but makes predicting entry probability harder than a simple distance-based system. Families need to ensure their child sits the banding test to be considered.

Urban Environment: The school is in a busy, inner-city location. While the site is secure and facilities are modern, it does not have the sprawling green playing fields of suburban schools, relying instead on the adjacent park and efficient use of space.

Deptford Green is a school with a big heart and a clear head. It combines the vibrancy of New Cross with a structured, ambitious educational environment. It is best suited to families who value a comprehensive education that balances academic progress with genuine creative opportunity. For a child who wants to learn in a diverse, modern, and inclusive setting, it is a compelling choice. The main challenge is navigating the oversubscribed admissions process.