Overall Oxbridge
#1,013
11 ranked schools · -99 places vs Eng avg #914 of 1,983
Applications
142
Offers
24
Offer rate16.9%
-5.5 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 22.4%
Schools in Waltham Forest, London
One of northeast London's most compositionally varied outer boroughs, Waltham Forest was formed in 1965 from the Essex municipal boroughs of Leyton, Walthamstow, and Chingford, and today counts around 278,000 residents spread from the Lea Valley marshes to the ancient fringe of Epping Forest. The Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, part of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park legacy since 2012, runs along the borough's western edge.
Walthamstow is widely regarded as one of the borough's most school-competitive corners, drawing families competing for primary places, while Chingford has long been a sought-after pocket for parents prioritising catchments near the quieter forest-edge avenues. Victoria line and Overground services from Walthamstow Central reach Oxford Circus and Liverpool Street in under twenty minutes, with Highams Park providing a further Overground connection. Leyton and Leytonstone anchor the southwestern belt.
52
Primary
schools
18
Secondary
schools
4
All-through
schools
4
Post-16
colleges
4
Special
schools
3
Other
schools
of which14sixth forms·1grammar·15faith·3nurseries88 total
Area Performance
Waltham Forest schools rank in the top 35% of England
Across 86 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 7.66/10, +0.23 vs England.
Find My School Inspection Band
24% Elite
Distribution across all Waltham Forest schools
EliteExcellentGoodDeveloping
Waltham Forest vs England distribution
National Rank
Top 35%
Across all ranked Waltham Forest schools
Top 27%Primaryavg #4,023 of 14,978
Top 46%Secondaryavg #1,772 of 3,862
Top 48%Sixth formavg #1,232 of 2,555
Primary schools: 50 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.9/10
+0.56 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#4,023
+23 pts vs medianmedian 7,489
top 27% of 14,978
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
74%
+12 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
16%
+8 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.9/10
+0.56 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#4,023
+23 pts vs medianmedian 7,489
top 27% of 14,978
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
74%
+12 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
16%
+8 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Secondary schools: 22 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.3/10
-0.07 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#1,772
+4 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 46% of 3,862
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
62%
+5 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
46.4
+7.3 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.3/10
-0.07 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#1,772
+4 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 46% of 3,862
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
62%
+5 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
46.4
+7.3 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Sixth form schools: 14 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.3/10
-0.49 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,232
+2 pts vs medianmedian 1,278
top 48% of 2,555
% A*-A at A-Level
26%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
53%
+3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.3/10
-0.49 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,232
+2 pts vs medianmedian 1,278
top 48% of 2,555
% A*-A at A-Level
26%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
53%
+3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Oxford
#258
6 ranked schools · -5 places vs Eng avg #253 of 1,197
Applications
53
Offers
5
Offer rate9.4%
-5.7 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 15.1%
Cambridge
#1,042
11 ranked schools · -269 places vs Eng avg #773 of 1,880
Applications
89
Offers
19
Offer rate21.4%
-8.1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 29.4%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Waltham Forest
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Waltham Forest
Top 3 Sixth Forms
2026
Waltham Forest
Local directory
School profiles in Waltham Forest, London
Browse 78 local profile links across primary schools, secondary schools and sixth forms. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
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