Ark Greenwich Free School
Free schools · 615 pupils
94% stayed in education · Attainment 8 68.2
Academy converter
Woolwich Polytechnic School
- Pupils on roll
- 1,565of 1,820 places
- Free school meals
- 36.1%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 234
- Ofsted
- School remains Good, 13 March 2024Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys (URN 100187, until 1 August 2014).
What the data says
Of the 238 pupils who finished Year 11 at Woolwich Polytechnic School in 2023, 54% stayed on in Woolwich Polytechnic School’s own sixth form (Greenwich average 53%), 18% went to a further education college and 1% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 184 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 64% went to university (Greenwich 46%, England 37%), and 17% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
Computer Science is unusually popular at GCSE: 23% of the year group took it, against 13% of pupils across England.
GCSE results in 2025 were in line with the national picture: Attainment 8 of 45.2 against 46.1 across England and 46.9 in Greenwich, with 47% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Greenwich and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Woolwich Polytechnic School | Greenwich | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 238 | 2,852 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 93% | 91% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 92% | 89% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 54% | 53% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 19% | 20% | 13% |
| — further education college | 18% | 14% | 37% |
| — other education | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 1% | 3% |
| Employment | — | 1% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 4% | 5% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 3% | 4% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Woolwich Polytechnic School | Greenwich | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 184 | 1,886 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 85% | 77% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 64% | 46% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 17% | 17% | 19% |
| Further education | 1% | 5% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 8% | 4% | 7% |
| Employment | 11% | 19% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 8% | 16% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Woolwich Polytechnic School | Greenwich | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 45.2 | 46.9 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 47% | 46% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 69% | 65% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 10% | 48% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 3.71 | 4.20 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 33% | 32% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 41.9 | 39.1 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 46.8 | 50.7 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 22% | 28% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 231 | 99% | 89% | 17% | 20% | 73% |
| Mathematics | 231 | 99% | 88% | 18% | 22% | 73% |
| English Literature | 225 | 96% | 86% | 21% | 21% | 80% |
| Combined Science | 187 | 80% | 65% | 4% | 9% | 61% |
| History | 73 | 31% | 41% | 21% | 26% | 64% |
| Geography | 73 | 31% | 41% | 12% | 25% | 66% |
| Economics | 57 | 24% | 1% | 30% | 34% | 81% |
| Citizenship Studies | 53 | 23% | 3% | 11% | 19% | 89% |
| Computer Science | 53 | 23% | 13% | 11% | 30% | 70% |
| Chemistry | 43 | 18% | 23% | 35% | 47% | 93% |
| Physics | 43 | 18% | 23% | 44% | 46% | 98% |
| Biology | 43 | 18% | 23% | 35% | 45% | 98% |
| Design and Technology | 41 | 18% | 11% | 15% | 23% | 85% |
| Art and Design | 25 | 11% | 7% | 24% | 24% | 100% |
| Spanish | 23 | 10% | 19% | 48% | 27% | 74% |
| French | 20 | 9% | 18% | 5% | 29% | 80% |
| Photography | 20 | 9% | 6% | 10% | 19% | 75% |
| Drama | 18 | 8% | 7% | 6% | 27% | 89% |
| Graphic Communication | 15 | 6% | 1% | 0% | 23% | 100% |
| Turkish | 1 | 0% | 0% | — | 71% | — |
| Italian | 1 | 0% | 0% | — | 53% | — |
| Business Studies | 1 | 0% | 18% | — | 20% | — |
| Polish | 1 | 0% | 1% | — | 84% | — |
| Punjabi | 1 | 0% | 0% | — | 48% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Business Management | 66 | 47% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 40 | 29% | — |
| Sports Studies | 30 | 22% | — |
| Speech and Drama | 10 | 7% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Woolwich Polytechnic School | Greenwich | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 426 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 139 | 1,055 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 30.93 | 32.74 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C | C+ | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 8% | 11% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 42 | 30% | 31% |
| Economics | 28 | 20% | 13% |
| Psychology | 25 | 18% | 23% |
| Sociology | 21 | 15% | 13% |
| Chemistry | 17 | 12% | 17% |
| Biology | 16 | 12% | 20% |
| Politics | 15 | 11% | 6% |
| English Literature | 15 | 11% | 11% |
| Drama | 12 | 9% | 2% |
| Photography | 11 | 8% | 3% |
| Computer Science | 11 | 8% | 5% |
| Product Design | 10 | 7% | 2% |
| Business Studies | 10 | 7% | 13% |
| Further Mathematics | 8 | 6% | 5% |
| Geography | 8 | 6% | 10% |
| Fine Art | 7 | 5% | 3% |
| English Language | 7 | 5% | 4% |
| History | 7 | 5% | 13% |
| Italian | — | — | 0% |
| French | — | — | 1% |
| Physics | — | — | 12% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 39 | 28% | — |
| Finance / Accounting (General) | VRQ Level 3 | 38 | 27% | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (All) | 28 | 20% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 20 | 14% | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (All) | 18 | 13% | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (All) | 18 | 13% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 15 | 11% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 14 | 10% | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 11 | 8% | — |
| Business Studies | GCE AS level (All) | 11 | 8% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 8 | 6% | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (All) | 8 | 6% | — |
| Photography | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Fine Art | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Photography | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Fine Art | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Greenwich
Eltham Hill School
Community school · sixth form · 1,350 pupils
92% stayed in education · Attainment 8 52.3
Harris Academy Greenwich
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,138 pupils
84% stayed in education · Attainment 8 49.9
Leigh Academy Blackheath
Free schools · sixth form · 1,060 pupils
88% stayed in education · Attainment 8 55.0
Leigh Academy Halley
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 987 pupils
92% stayed in education · Attainment 8 48.4
Leigh Stationers' Academy
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,764 pupils
88% stayed in education · Attainment 8 52.7
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.