South Hampstead High School GDST[1]

Independent · ages 4–19

Headline results

A-level average grade: AL A+ A+ 2024/25[2]

Results

GCSE (key stage 4)

Attainment 8: 42.1 2025/26[3]
Grade 5+ in English & maths: 0% 2025/26[3]
Grade 7+ in English & maths: 0% 2025/26[3]
Progress 8, 2025/26: Not calculated[4]
Progress 8, 2024/25: Not calculated[4]

IGCSEs don't count towards Attainment 8, so it understates many independent schools.

Earlier years
Year	Attainment 8	Grade 5+ in English & maths
2024/25	47.9[5]	0%[5]
2023/24	49.4[6]	0%[6]
2022/23	47.5[7]	0%[7]
2021/22	48.2[8]	0%[8]

A level (16–18)

A-level average grade: A+ 2024/25[2]
AAB or better, at least two in facilitating subjects: 60.6% 2024/25[2]
All results, 2020/21: Not published (exams cancelled, COVID-19)[9]
All results, 2019/20: Not published (exams cancelled, COVID-19)[9]

Earlier years
Year	A-level average grade	AAB or better, at least two in facilitating subjects
2023/24	A[10]	64%[10]
2022/23	A[11]	50%[11]
2021/22	A+[12]	60.3%[12]
2018/19	A[13]	60%[13]

Destinations after 16–18 study

Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment: 89.9% 2023/24[14]
UK higher education: 86.5% 2023/24[14]
Education: 87.6% 2023/24[14]
Apprenticeship: 0% 2023/24[14]
Employment: 2.2% 2023/24[14]

Earlier leavers
Left in	Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment	UK higher education	Education	Apprenticeship	Employment
2022/23	87.3%[14]	69.8%[14]	76.2%[14]	0%[14]	11.1%[14]
2021/22	86.3%[14]	76.3%[14]	81.3%[14]	0%[14]	5%[14]

Shares of the pupils who left in the year shown. Russell Group and Oxford or Cambridge figures were published for leavers up to 2019/20 only.

For independent schools the DfE publishes destinations after 16–18 study only: no destinations after GCSEs and no university progression figures (top third, Russell Group, Oxbridge).

Ofsted

Inspected by: Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)[15]

ISI inspection

Inspection: February 2026[16]
Framework: Framework from September 2023[16]
Leadership and governance: Standards met[16]
Quality of education: Significant strength[16]
Health and wellbeing: Standards met[16]
Social and economic education: Standards met[16]
Safeguarding: Standards met[16]

Quality of education

ISI found (February 2026): The school's oracy programme helps pupils develop strong speaking and reasoning skills, which is a significant strength.
ISI found (February 2026): Lessons are well planned and teachers are knowledgeable, which helps pupils develop subject knowledge and make good progress.

Social and economic education

ISI recommended: The school should update the careers programme for middle school pupils to better match their interests and needs.

Previous ISI inspections: 2023, 2018, 2015 (2023 report, 2018 report, 2015 report).

ISI's page for this school

Findings of the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), restated in our own words: not ISI's wording. Read the full report on ISI's website.

Competition to get in

Admissions

Places (published admission number), 11+ entry: 55 Entry Sept 2027[17]
Entrance test: entrance test Entry Sept 2027[17]
Sibling priority: priority given to siblings where two or more girls of equal level on assessment 2026-10-14[18]
Sibling policy: Siblings of girls who will be pupils at the school when the candidate joins will be interviewed. Priority is not, however, given to siblings except where there are two or more girls of equal level on assessment, in which case priority will be given to a sibling. 2026-10-14[18]

Character & practicalities

Fees

Prep, day: £8,186 a term 2026/27 · Junior School · incl. VAT[19]
Senior, day: £10,020 a term 2026/27 · Senior School · incl. VAT[19]

As published by the school on its own website for the year shown, quoted from our archived copy. Ranges run from the lowest to the highest fee the school lists for that stage. Check the school's current fees before deciding: extras (lunch, trips, exams) and bursaries are not included. Fees are never used to rank schools.

Type: Other independent school[1]
Ages: 4–19[1]
Boys / girls: Girls[1]
Admissions: Selective[1]
Sixth form: Yes[1]
Boarding: No boarders[1]
Capacity: 964[1]
Local authority: Camden[1]
Website: http://www.shhs.gdst.net/[1]
Nursery classes: No Nursery Classes[15]
Special classes: No Special Classes[15]
Section 41 (can be named in an EHC plan): Not approved[15]
District: Camden [20]
Postcode: NW3 5SS[1]
URN: 100076[1]

School details as recorded in Get Information About Schools on 14 Oct 2026.

Pupils

Number on roll: 954 2024/25[21]
SEN support: 13.1% 2024/25[21]
EHC plan: 0.1% 2024/25[21]
Free school meals in the last 6 years: 0% 2024/25[21]

Practicalities

Admissions contact: The admissions contact details for the Junior School include the provided URL, email, and phone number. Entry Sept 2027[22]
Occasional places: The school allows registration for occasional places in Years 1-2, Years 4-6, and Years 8-10, but not in Year 11 or Upper Sixth. 2026-10-14[23]

Routes to senior schools

Automatic place at 11+: South Hampstead High School GDST (Senior): No entrance exam. Transfer is on the Junior Head's recommendation from continuous assessment. If a girl is judged academically unsuited, parents are told in Year 5 or earlier. The Head's decision is final. South Hampstead Junior School pupils are not required to take the entrance examination for the Senior School but transfer by recommendation of the Head of the Junior School, based on continuous assessment. 2026-10-14[18]

In the inspectors' and the school's words

Academic: The quality of teaching is a significant strength The curriculum in the junior school is enhanced by lessons in debating and philosophy.[24]
Warmth: This results in pupils throughout the junior school making good progress in their personal, physical, social and emotional development. pupils enjoy school and are confident in their choices.[24]
Pastoral care: Pupils in the junior school nominate ‘five trusted adults’ for this purpose. All pupils have regular individual meetings to discuss their wellbeing with tutors.[24]
Behaviour: Incidents of unacceptable behaviour or bullying are rare.[24]
Learning support: For example, leaders at the junior school organise weeks to educate pupils about neurodiversity. They make subtle adjustments to ensure that pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are included[24]
Enrichment: Children in the early years experience an appropriate range of activities, including visits to woodland areas. For example, pupils in the junior school visit a local fire station and correspond with their member of parliament.[24]
Pupil voice: Pupils speak confidently in front of each other and adult audiences. Leaders routinely seek pupils’ views through surveys and focus groups.[24]
Independence: Pupils develop resilience and curiosity in a structured programme that takes place in a woodland area of Hampstead Heath.[24]
Collaboration: Leaders plan activities that enable pupils to collaborate and converse. Pupils in the junior school are taught to listen to each other’s ideas and respond appropriately.[24]
Structure: Leaders have clear policies about behaviour and arrangements to prevent bullying.[24]
Diversity: The school has identified English as an additional language for 318 pupils. pupils develop high levels of respect for those who have particular needs, or different racial or religious backgrounds.[24]
Sport: Leaders provide apparatus and space for pupils in the junior school to develop their physical confidence.[24]
Academic: The quality of teaching is a significant strength, and results in pupils developing their subject knowledge to a high standard and making good progress across the curriculum.[25]
Warmth: As a result, they cultivate a thoughtful trust and deepening respect for others of all backgrounds. pupils enjoy school and are confident in their choices.[25]
Pastoral care: All pupils have regular individual meetings to discuss their wellbeing with tutors. Effective pastoral care ensures that pupils who may be at risk of harm are identified quickly and that appropriate action is taken.[25]
Behaviour: Incidents of unacceptable behaviour or bullying are rare.[25]
Learning support: They make subtle adjustments to ensure that pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are included in the high-level discussions that are typical in lessons. Teachers fine-tune their approaches so that individual needs are met almost exclusively in lessons.[25]
Enrichment: Leaders organise a far-reaching range of visits and trips to museums and galleries, and overseas. A significant number of pupils attend one of numerous debating clubs.[25]
Pupil voice: Leaders routinely seek pupils’ feedback on almost all areas of school life. The oracy curriculum ensures that pupils ‘find their voice’ in line with the school aims.[25]
Independence: Leaders enable pupils in the sixth form to explore scholarly interests beyond A-level specifications. Leaders encourage pupils to initiate activities in order to develop their organisational abilities.[25]
Collaboration: Leaders plan activities that enable pupils to collaborate and converse. They are supportive of each other across age-groups.[25]
Structure: Leaders have clear policies about behaviour and arrangements to prevent bullying.[25]
Diversity: The school has identified English as an additional language for 318 pupils. pupils develop high levels of respect for those who have particular needs, or different racial or religious backgrounds.[25]
Sport: The majority of pupils represent the school in one or more of a wide range of sports. Some individuals or teams achieve national success.[25]
Performing arts: Pupils develop high levels of skill in the school’s ‘four pillars’ of debating, drama, music and sport.[25]
Visual arts: They have revised the senior school art curriculum to enable pupils to develop a greater depth of skills. The art curriculum offers courses in fine art and textiles.[25]

Sources

Department for Education: Get Information About Schools: all establishments. Period 2026-10-14, published 2026-10-14. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Department for Education: Performance tables schools data (explore education statistics). Period 2025/26, provisional, published 2026-10-15. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Department for Education: Key stage 4 performance 2024/25: data guidance. Period 2024/25. Archived copy; original. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Quote
It is not possible to calculate Progress 8 for academic years 2024/25 and 2025/26 due to gaps in the baseline caused by COVID-19 disruption.
Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2023/24, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Department for Education: A level and other 16 to 18 results 2020/21. Period 2020/21. Archived copy; original. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Quote
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer exam series was cancelled in both 2020 and 2021, and alternative processes were set up to award grades.
Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2023/24, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Department for Education: 16-18 destination measures: 16-19 study leavers institution level destinations. Period 2023/24. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Department for Education: Get Information About Schools: all establishments (independent schools' inspectorate and provision). Period 2026-10-17, published 2026-10-17. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
reports.isi.net: reports.isi.net document (PDF). Period 2026-10-17. Licence: copyright-quoted.
shhs.gdst.net: shhs.gdst.net — Entry at 11. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
Quotes (2)
Each year we welcome approximately 55 new girls into the school to join those moving up from our Junior School. (p. 1)
All applicants will be invited to sit the entrance test at their own school or, if their school is unable to host the test, at South Hampstead. (p. 1)
shhs.gdst.net: shhs.gdst.net — Admissions Policy 09 26 (PDF). Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
Quotes (4)
Priority is not, however, given to siblings except where there are two or more girls of equal level on assessment, in which case priority will be given to a sibling. (p. 4)
Sisters are not given priority except, where two candidates are assessed equally, a sister of a girl in or about to join the school will be given priority. (p. 3)
Siblings of girls who will be pupils at the school when the candidate joins will be interviewed. Priority is not, however, given to siblings except where there are two or more girls of equal level on assessment, in which case priority will be given to a sibling. (p. 4)
South Hampstead Junior School pupils are not required to take the entrance examination for the Senior School but transfer by recommendation of the Head of the Junior School, based on continuous assessment (p. 4)
shhs.gdst.net: shhs.gdst.net — Fees. Period 2026-10-17. Licence: copyright-quoted.
Quotes (2)
Termly fees for 2026/27 Junior School - £8,186 inc VAT (p. 1)
Termly fees for 2026/27 Junior School - £8,186 inc VAT Senior School - £10,020 inc VAT (p. 1)
Office for National Statistics: Parish to Ward to Local Authority District (May 2026) Lookup in EW. Period 2026-05-01. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: School census. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
shhs.gdst.net: shhs.gdst.net — Entry at 4. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
Quotes (2)
If you have any queries about the admissions process, please contact: junioradmissions@shhs.gdst.net (p. 1)
020 7794 7198 (p. 1)
shhs.gdst.net: shhs.gdst.net — Occasional vacancies and overseas. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
Quotes (2)
To register your interest in an occasional place to join Years 1 or 2, Years 4 to 6, or Years 8 to 10, please register your interest here. We do not accept new joiners in Year 11 or the Upper Sixth. (p. 1)
Vacancies may occasionally arise outside our usual entry points at Reception, Year 3, Year 7 and the Lower Sixth. (p. 1)
reports.isi.net: reports.isi.net document (PDF). Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
Quotes (20)
Leaders provide apparatus and space for pupils in the junior school to develop their physical confidence (p. 10)
This results in pupils throughout the junior school making good progress in their personal, physical, social and emotional development (p. 8)
pupils enjoy school and are confident in their choices (p. 10)
The quality of teaching is a significant strength (p. 3)
The curriculum in the junior school is enhanced by lessons in debating and philosophy (p. 8)
Pupils in the junior school nominate 'five trusted adults' for this purpose (p. 14)
All pupils have regular individual meetings to discuss their wellbeing with tutors (p. 10)
Incidents of unacceptable behaviour or bullying are rare (p. 3)
The school has identified English as an additional language for 318 pupils (p. 17)
pupils develop high levels of respect for those who have particular needs, or different racial or religious backgrounds (p. 3)
Leaders have clear policies about behaviour and arrangements to prevent bullying (p. 3)
Children in the early years experience an appropriate range of activities, including visits to woodland areas (p. 3)
For example, pupils in the junior school visit a local fire station and correspond with their member of parliament (p. 12)
Pupils speak confidently in front of each other and adult audiences (p. 8)
Leaders routinely seek pupils' views through surveys and focus groups (p. 3)
Pupils develop resilience and curiosity in a structured programme that takes place in a woodland area of Hampstead Heath (p. 8)
Leaders plan activities that enable pupils to collaborate and converse (p. 8)
Pupils in the junior school are taught to listen to each other's ideas and respond appropriately (p. 3)
For example, leaders at the junior school organise weeks to educate pupils about neurodiversity (p. 10)
They make subtle adjustments to ensure that pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are included (p. 3)
shhs.gdst.net: shhs.gdst.net — ISI report 02 26 (PDF). Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
Quotes (23)
The majority of pupils represent the school in one or more of a wide range of sports. Some individuals or teams achieve national success (p. 10)
As a result, they cultivate a thoughtful trust and deepening respect for others of all backgrounds (p. 10)
pupils enjoy school and are confident in their choices (p. 10)
The quality of teaching is a significant strength, and results in pupils developing their subject knowledge to a high standard and making good progress across the curriculum (p. 3)
All pupils have regular individual meetings to discuss their wellbeing with tutors (p. 10)
Effective pastoral care ensures that pupils who may be at risk of harm are identified quickly and that appropriate action is taken (p. 4)
Incidents of unacceptable behaviour or bullying are rare (p. 3)
The school has identified English as an additional language for 318 pupils (p. 17)
pupils develop high levels of respect for those who have particular needs, or different racial or religious backgrounds (p. 3)
Leaders have clear policies about behaviour and arrangements to prevent bullying (p. 3)
Leaders organise a far-reaching range of visits and trips to museums and galleries, and overseas (p. 12)
A significant number of pupils attend one of numerous debating clubs (p. 9)
Leaders routinely seek pupils' feedback on almost all areas of school life (p. 12)
The oracy curriculum ensures that pupils 'find their voice' in line with the school aims (p. 3)
They have revised the senior school art curriculum to enable pupils to develop a greater depth of skills (p. 6)
The art curriculum offers courses in fine art and textiles (p. 8)
Leaders enable pupils in the sixth form to explore scholarly interests beyond A-level specifications (p. 3)
Leaders encourage pupils to initiate activities in order to develop their organisational abilities (p. 9)
Leaders plan activities that enable pupils to collaborate and converse (p. 8)
They are supportive of each other across age-groups (p. 4)
Pupils develop high levels of skill in the school's 'four pillars' of debating, drama, music and sport (p. 9)
They make subtle adjustments to ensure that pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are included in the high-level discussions that are typical in lessons (p. 3)
Teachers fine-tune their approaches so that individual needs are met almost exclusively in lessons (p. 9)