St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School Review 2026: Four Centuries of Excellence

When John Harvard walked these halls in the 1620s, he carried with him the seeds of what would become Harvard University in Massachusetts. Today, four centuries later, St Olave's remains rooted in the charitable vision that launched it in 1571. This boys' selective grammar school in Orpington, Kent, educates roughly 1,100 students in one of England's most academically formidable environments. The November 2024 Ofsted inspection confirmed Outstanding across all five areas of assessment. Students here compete in a highly selective admissions process with over 1,400 candidates pursuing just 128 Year 7 places annually. The school ranks 13th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the elite tier at the top 0% of schools nationally. With 39% achieving A* at A-level and a robust pipeline to prestigious universities including 26 Cambridge and 13 Oxford places last year, St Olave's delivers the kind of academic rigour typically associated with independent day schools, entirely free to families.

The school motto, reflecting its namesake saint, appears woven throughout daily life rather than merely inscribed on buildings. The phrase "Happiness, Success, Community" sets the tone, backed by genuine institutional commitment. Sixth-form students visibly mentor younger pupils and lead over forty clubs and societies, creating a tiered leadership culture where senior students hold real responsibility.

The campus itself reflects thoughtful development. The purpose-built Sixth Form Block and Music Centre, opened in 2008, signal institutional investment in post-16 excellence. Converted from a former Olympic-sized swimming pool, the Thomas Egan Center now hosts dramatic productions and sports fixtures. The 2022 All-Weather Pitch expansion enables year-round sporting activity. Most distinctively, a Wellbeing Garden provides sanctuary; students describe it and the dedicated wellbeing room as genuine refuges when stressed. One pupil noted in the recent inspection that "there is a culture of acceptance and respect in this school."

Under Headteacher Andrew Rees's leadership, the school balances traditional grammar school rigour with progressive pastoral systems. Boys from diverse faith backgrounds study together in a highly multicultural setting. Staff turnover is low, suggesting institutional stability and professional satisfaction. Behaviour expectations are crystal-clear: pupils learn what it means to be an "Olavian." This identity extends beyond academics; students display exceptional courtesy and resilience across all interactions.

GCSE Performance

Results place the school decisively in the elite tier nationally. In 2024, 95% of GCSE grades achieved 9-7 (A* to A), compared to the England average of 54%. The Attainment 8 score stood at 85.8, substantially above the England average. Crucially, Progress 8 measured +1.27, indicating students make exceptional progress from their starting points beyond what their prior attainment would predict.

St Olave's ranks 13th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it among the highest-performing state secondary schools in the country. Locally in Orpington, it dominates as rank 1, with no other secondary school approaching comparable results. The school's performance is especially striking because as a selective grammar school, it benefits from a highly academically able intake; Progress 8 demonstrates that teaching substantially amplifies that advantage rather than merely coasting on pupil ability.

A-Level Performance

A-level outcomes reinforce the school's position as a gateway to elite universities. Across the Class of 2025, 95% of grades achieved A* to B, with 39% graded A* and 78% achieving A* or A. These figures exceed the England average dramatically (which sits around 24% for A* and A combined).

The school ranks 42nd in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the elite band. Subjects span the full academic range: sciences, mathematics, humanities, languages, and the arts all see consistently strong performance. The breadth of offering — over 25 subjects available — enables genuine specialisation without narrowing the curriculum.

The school operates a deliberately ambitious curriculum designed to develop deep conceptual understanding rather than surface learning. One lesson observed during the November 2024 inspection showcased a Year 9 geography class debating the accuracy of maps in light of erosion; a Year 8 mathematics lesson explored not merely how to solve equations but the foundational logic underpinning why algebra works. This depth characterises teaching across departments.

Subject expertise is pronounced, particularly in the sixth form. Teachers use extended questioning to probe pupil understanding, identify misconceptions in real-time, and model sophisticated thinking. Individual study support is available across subjects; the main library and dedicated sixth-form library, both well-stocked, serve as active learning hubs. Pupils with SEND access the same ambitious curriculum as their peers through carefully differentiated teaching; these students achieve strong GCSE and A-level results in a wide range of subjects, reflecting both careful identification of need and expert scaffolding by staff.

The school promotes a broader love of reading. Olave's Reading, a student-led scheme, encourages wider engagement beyond the curriculum. Sixth-form students attend weekly lecture series on university expectations, higher-level apprenticeships, and careers, preparing them not merely to pass exams but to make informed choices about their futures.

Leavers' data confirms the strength of the university pipeline. In 2024, 83% of pupils progressed to university, with 4% entering apprenticeships and 5% to direct employment. Beyond raw numbers, the destinations reveal the school's academic influence: 26 students secured Cambridge places and 13 Oxford, giving St Olave's a combined Oxbridge acceptance of 39 students and placing it rank 15th nationally for Oxbridge outcomes (FindMySchool data).

The Oxbridge pipeline is substantial but not the sole measure of success. Students regularly progress to Russell Group universities across science, engineering, medicine, and humanities. Medical school places are particularly consistent; in recent years, roughly a dozen Year 13 leavers have entered medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine annually. The school's careers programme is intentional: sixth-formers benefit from guest lectures by university tutors, admission test coaching, and individual guidance tailored to each student's aspirations.

Internal progression from Year 11 to Year 12 is not automatic; the school maintains selective sixth-form entry criteria with significant external recruitment. Over 120 external students join the sixth form post-GCSE, most of them girls (the school admits girls to the sixth form only). This mixed cohort in Year 12 and 13 enriches the learning environment and accelerates social maturation.

The school operates over forty student-led clubs and societies, many jointly led by sixth-form students. This represents genuine pupil agency; student publications produced by these societies — journals in History, Mathematics, Medics, Physics, and other domains — achieve impressively high editorial standards.

Music: A Defining Strength

St Olave's holds a unique role as the exclusive provider of choristers for the Choir of the King's Chapel of the Savoy, London, a Chapel Royal connection dating back centuries. A dedicated music centre opened in 2008 with rehearsal and practice facilities. The school fields a symphony orchestra, chapel choir, gospel choir, and numerous ensembles; individual instrumental and vocal tuition is available across a wide range of instruments. Students regularly perform in school concerts and trips abroad. This music provision is neither ornamental nor exclusive; participation spans accessible entry through to elite levels.

Drama: Highly Professional and Accessible

Regular school productions run across two main venues; a third drama space in the Thomas Egan Center (completed in 2010) supports concurrent performances and rehearsals. Recent years have featured full-scale dramatic productions involving students across Year groups, with orchestral accompaniment and professional-level staging.

STEM and Technology

St Olave's maintains a strong legacy in STEM, historically designated as a specialist mathematics and computing school. Student clubs reflect this: the Robotics club (VEX Robotics) competes at regional and national level. F1 In Schools engages students in formula car design and engineering. Target 2.0, a problem-solving competition, fields competitors annually. The Physics and Engineering Society, Computer Science Society, and Machine Learning Society reflect genuine disciplinary depth. Biology, Chemistry, and Physics societies run alongside academic teaching. A smaller but engaged Junior Physics Society draws Year 9 students into deeper engagement.

Sports and Physical Activity

The school expanded its sports provision in 2022 with completion of an all-weather pitch funded through voluntary giving. Facilities now include multiple courts, cricket nets (undergoing dedicated fundraising for further development), and the former Olympic-sized swimming pool (now the Thomas Egan Center). Students compete in a full suite of traditional sports: rugby, hockey, cricket, football, tennis, and cross-country are all competitive offerings with regular fixtures. The cross-country club has an active membership. A structured lunchtime and after-school sports programme runs throughout the year.

Broader Cultural and Academic Life

Beyond the headline clubs, the school maintains space for nuance and intellectual play. Debating Society competes at national level. Model United Nations engages students in global affairs simulation. A Quiz Society tests knowledge across domains. Chess, previously a competitive offering, continues as a structured club. Environmental Society works on campus projects and awareness. Six religious or faith-based societies (Christian Union, Islamic Society, Hindu Society, plus others) enable students to explore identity and conviction in a respectful context. Feminist Society and Pride Society reflect contemporary student concerns; a Philosophy Society for upper-school students explores ethics and epistemology.

Annual enrichment includes political awareness week, diversity week, and structured activities weeks. Students may undertake World Challenge expeditions and Operation Wallacea field research programmes, typically ecology- or conservation-focused. International trips are routine: language students travel throughout Europe; sports teams tour nationally and internationally; the music ensembles have performed abroad.

The Le Chavetois Society, a remarkable tradition dating to the First World War, continues community volunteering and fundraising. Over a hundred years, the school has maintained this commitment to local outreach.

This is a selective state grammar school. Entry at Year 7 (age 11) is via the School Entrance Test (SET), a one-hour examination consisting of approximately 60 questions across four sections, held in September. Competition is intense: with over 1,400 applications pursuing 128 places, roughly 9 boys apply per place offered.

Entry is entirely non-catchment; boys from across Greater London and beyond apply. The school operates no formal catchment boundary. Pupils must register by July before the September test date and complete a supplementary information form before October. The common application form is submitted through the local authority's coordinated admissions scheme by the October 31 deadline.

Sixth-form entry (Year 12) is also highly selective. External applicants join alongside internal progressors, creating cohorts of around 220-240 per year. Entry typically requires strong GCSE outcomes across a broad range of subjects. About 120 external places become available annually, attracting girls as well as boys; the sixth form is mixed-gender, whereas the main school remains boys-only.

The school operates choristerships for those selected to sing in the King's Chapel of the Savoy choir; this is a prestigious route with additional bursary support available.

The school operates on a traditional academic calendar with a full day structure. School hours run from 8:50am to 3:20pm. No wraparound care (breakfast/after-school clubs) is mentioned on the school website for the main school; families should contact the school directly regarding any care arrangements needed. The sixth form runs extended hours in line with typical sixth-form provision.

Transport links are good. The school sits on Goddington Lane in Orpington, south-east London. The Orpington railway station (rail link to London Bridge, Cannon Street, and beyond) lies roughly two miles away. Local bus services serve the school. Many students cycle or walk from nearby residential areas. The school website includes a dedicated transport page covering travel arrangements and parking information for visitors.

Exceptional pastoral support is a hallmark. The school vision of "Happiness, Success, Community" translates into concrete structures. Each pupil belongs to a tutor group of 6-8 students with dedicated staff; tutors meet pupils daily. A wellbeing practitioner is on-site; counselling services are available for those needing additional support. The wellbeing garden and wellbeing room, mentioned by inspectors and pupils alike, provide accessible retreat spaces.

The house system (four houses: Bingham, Cure, Harvard, and Leeke) structures community and competition. House competitions run throughout the year, fostering lateral bonding and healthy rivalry. Sixth-form students serve as mentors to younger pupils and often lead pastoral activities.

Behaviour is monitored with clear, consistent expectations. The 2024 inspection noted behaviour as "exemplary." Pupils feel very happy and safe; Ofsted Parent View data (November 2024) showed 86% of parents strongly agreeing their child feels safe and 78% strongly agreeing their child is happy.

Selective entry and entrance pressure. Over 1,400 boys sit the SET annually for 128 places. This is not a school to rely on without specific preparation and demonstrated academic strength. Many families pursue external tuition; the school does not formally recommend this, but the competitive reality is plain.

Grammar school culture and peer group transition. Boys arriving here were typically top performers at primary school; arriving at a school where all peers were similarly high-achieving requires psychological adjustment. Some boys thrive on this challenge; others find the competitive peer context demanding. Parents should consider their son's temperament alongside his academic ability.

No day provision in main school. The school admits boys only up to Year 11; girls join only in sixth form. Families seeking mixed-gender teaching throughout secondary should consider alternatives.

Examination selectivity at sixth form. A significant number of internal Year 11 pupils do not progress to Year 12 if their GCSE results do not meet the school's entry criteria. This policy generates strong university outcomes but is a real factor to consider if relying on automatic sixth-form progression.

A flagship state grammar school delivering genuinely exceptional academic outcomes alongside thoughtful pastoral systems and extensive enrichment. The November 2024 Ofsted inspection confirmed Outstanding across all five assessment areas, validating what the numbers already showed: 13th nationally in GCSE, 42nd in A-level, and consistent Oxbridge success. For academically ambitious boys who thrive in a selective, traditionally structured environment with high peer expectations, St Olave's offers first-rate education entirely free. The challenge lies in securing a place. Entry is highly competitive and requires genuine ability plus preparation. Best suited to families within travelling distance of Orpington seeking a state grammar school with an intellectually rigorous, inclusive sixth form and a strong commitment to character alongside achievement. The main hurdle is admission; once secured, the educational experience is exceptional.