The Government‘s latest performance tables (published: 24 January 2013) confirm Sydenham High’s strong academic standing, becoming the top performing girls’ school in Lewisham and continuing a five-year trend of high scores in GCSE and A level outcomes.

The school’s average 2012 GCSE point score was 417 with an average of 10 GCSEs per pupil. The level of pupils achieving A*-C grades also rose to 96 per cent from 94 per cent in 2011. In addition, the percentage of GCSE pupils meeting the government’s new English Baccalaureate performance standard – in the core subjects of English, Maths, Science, a Modern Foreign Language and a Humanity subject (History or Geography) – was 74 per cent, rising to 98 per cent when taking into account those who took Religious Studies as their Humanity subject. Meanwhile the average point score per pupil at A level was 855 with 93 per cent achieving three or more A levels.

“Sydenham High has always delivered academic excellence but it is great to have achieved some of our best results to date in our 125 th Anniversary year”, said Head Teacher, Kathryn Pullen.

“Academic success is vital in today’s competitive university and work environment and we work hard to ensure that all our girls can achieve the qualifications they need and deserve. This is not done by making them choose all their courses from a narrow band of ‘facilitation’ subjects which are currently being picked out as a measure of success in the A Level league tables but by offering them a broad range of options to enable our pupils to build a programme that works for them as individuals. We also believe that education is about much more than just exams so we work equally hard to ensure that every girl can discover her spark and is equipped with the confidence and resilience to thrive in a challenging world and reach her fullest potential.”