Best secondary schools in Wandsworth: A complete 2026 guide

Wandsworth is one of the larger inner London boroughs and has one of the stronger secondary school landscapes in south London. The borough is split across the affluent areas of Putney, Wandsworth Town, and Battersea and the more mixed neighbourhoods of Tooting, Earlsfield, and Roehampton. That spread means parents have access to a wide range of state and independent options.

There are around 12 state secondary schools in Wandsworth, plus several leading independent schools concentrated in Putney, Clapham, and Battersea. Wandsworth has no state grammar schools, but the borough has an unusually strong group of state academies with national reputations. This guide covers the strongest options across each sector so you can shape a realistic shortlist.

We have based this list on schools with strong Ofsted reputations, consistent results, and long-standing demand from local families. We have grouped them by sector so you can quickly see the independent, grammar, and state options at a glance.

We have not invented Ofsted ratings or specific exam results. Where we describe a school's strengths we have used qualitative language drawn from widely reported information. Always check the most recent Ofsted report, the school's own results, and the Department for Education's compare-school-performance service before making a final decision.

Wandsworth's independent sector is concentrated in Putney and Clapham, with strong girls' schools and co-ed options. Entry is typically by 11+ assessment, with some schools also taking pupils at 13+ or into the sixth form.

Putney High is an independent girls' day school and part of the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST). It serves girls from Year 7 through to sixth form and consistently ranks among the strongest girls' schools in south London.

The school is known for strong GCSE and A Level results, a confident academic culture, and a broad co-curricular offer including STEM, sport, and the arts. Entry is via the GDST 11+ assessment, with sixth-form entry by application and predicted grades.

Emanuel is a co-educational independent day school in Battersea. It has a long history and is one of the most popular co-ed independents in south-west London.

The school is known for strong GCSE and A Level results, a particularly active sport programme on its riverside site, and a broad co-curricular offer. Entry is at 11+, 13+, and into the sixth form, with assessments in English, maths, and reasoning.

Streatham & Clapham High is an independent girls' day school in Streatham (SW16, officially in the London Borough of Lambeth) and a school many Wandsworth families consider given its proximity. Like Putney High, it is part of the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST).

The school is known for steady academic results, a focus on the whole child, and an inclusive approach to admissions for an independent girls' school. Entry is via the GDST 11+ assessment, with sixth-form entry by application and predicted grades.

Ibstock Place is a co-educational independent day school in Roehampton. It takes pupils from age 3 to 18 and is one of the most popular all-through co-ed independents in south London.

The school is known for strong academic results, a focus on the arts and creativity alongside academic subjects, and a relatively close-knit community feel. Entry is at 11+, 13+, and into the sixth form, with assessments in English and maths plus interview.

Wandsworth has no state grammar schools. Families looking for academically selective state education usually look across to Sutton, which has five grammars, or to Kingston upon Thames. If you are considering this route, register early for the relevant borough's selective tests because the deadlines fall in Year 5 or early Year 6, well before the main October application date.

Wandsworth's state sector is among the stronger in London. The borough has several large academies with national reputations, a strong girls' school, and a popular CofE option. Most state secondaries admit primarily on distance, with faith schools using religious criteria alongside catchment. Many of the most oversubscribed schools have tight effective catchments, so check previous-year furthest distance offered before finalising your six preferences.

Ashcroft Technology Academy is a co-educational state secondary in Putney. It is among the more oversubscribed state schools in south London and has a long-standing academic reputation.

The school is known for strong GCSE and A Level results, a focus on STEM subjects, and an active sixth form. Admission is non-selective overall but includes a partial banding test to ensure a mix of abilities, with the main allocation based on distance.

Burntwood is a state girls' school in Tooting and one of the largest girls' schools in London. It has a long history of strong results and a particularly strong sixth form.

The school is known for strong GCSE and A Level outcomes, a confident academic culture, and an active enrichment programme. Admission is non-selective with priority based on distance, and the sixth form is in high demand from across south London.

Chestnut Grove is a co-educational state secondary in Balham. It is one of the most popular non-selective state schools in Wandsworth and consistently attracts strong local demand.

The school is known for steady GCSE results, a focus on the arts and creative subjects alongside academic strength, and an active sixth form. Admission is non-selective with priority based on distance, alongside partial selection by aptitude for 30 Art and Design places and 30 Modern Foreign Languages places.

Saint Cecilia's is a Church of England state secondary in Wandsworth. It is one of the most oversubscribed CofE schools in south London and has a clear academic ethos.

The school is known for strong GCSE results, an active musical programme, and a structured behaviour culture. Admission uses CofE faith criteria alongside distance, with a supplementary form required for faith-based places.

ARK Putney Academy is a co-educational state secondary in Putney. It is part of the ARK academy chain and has invested heavily in academic improvement in recent years.

The school is known for a structured curriculum, a clear behaviour ethos, and a focus on supporting students into strong post-16 destinations. Admission is non-selective and primarily based on distance.

Wandsworth's range of options means most families have a genuine choice between very different school cultures. The borough's strongest state schools attract families who would otherwise consider independents, while the independents themselves run the gamut from highly traditional to more creative.

Think carefully about non-academic factors. Single-sex versus co-educational is a meaningful question for some children. SEND provision varies between schools and is worth asking about specifically. The sixth form matters, particularly if you are choosing a single-sex school for Year 7 to 11 but might want co-educational study at 16. Visiting on a normal weekday rather than only on open evenings gives a much more honest picture.

Wandsworth is part of the pan-London admissions system. You apply through the Wandsworth online portal, listing up to six schools in order of preference. The deadline is 31 October in Year 6, with national offer day on 1 March.

Both Ashcroft Technology Academy and Chestnut Grove Academy require applicants to sit the Wandsworth Year 6 Test, which is used to allocate places across five ability bands rather than to select on academic ground. The test usually takes place in the autumn of Year 6 and you need to register separately by a date in September of Year 6. Chestnut Grove additionally offers up to 30 places by aptitude in Art and Design and up to 30 in Modern Foreign Languages, each with its own specialist assessment in autumn of Year 6.

For faith schools you also need to complete a supplementary information form and submit it directly to the school. For independents, each school runs its own admissions process with separate registration deadlines and assessments, usually in the autumn of Year 6 for 11+ entry. If your child is not offered a place at any of your six preferences, Wandsworth will offer the nearest school with availability and you can join waiting lists.