School WiselyBeta

City of London School[1]

Independent · ages 10–18

Open in the map

Headline results

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

Results

GCSE (key stage 4)

Attainment 8
32.5 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 Grade 7+ in English & maths
2024/25 39.2[5] 98.6%[5]
2023/24 33.3[6] 99.4%[6]
2022/23 36.8[7] 97%[7]
2021/22 36.9[8] 100%[8]

A level (16–18)

A-level average grade
A 2024/25[2]
AAB or better, at least two in facilitating subjects
65.7% 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] 77.3%[10]
2022/23 A[11] 64%[11]
2021/22 A+[12] 90.4%[12]
2018/19 A[13] 22.2%[13]

Ofsted

No published data for this school.

Competition to get in

Admissions

Test registration closes
2 Nov 2026 Entry Sept 2027[14]
Entrance test
online assessment (105 minutes), creative writing (30 minutes) Entry Sept 2027[15]
Entrance test
online assessment, creative writing task Entry Sept 2027[14]
Entrance test date
6 Oct 2026 Entry Sept 2027[16]
Entrance test date
27 Nov 2026 Entry Sept 2027[14]

Character & practicalities

Type
Other independent school[1]
Ages
10–18[1]
Boys / girls
Boys[1]
Sixth form
Yes[1]
Boarding
No boarders[1]
Capacity
1100[1]
Local authority
City of London[1]
Website
http://www.cityoflondonschool.org.uk[1]
District
City of London[17]
Postcode
EC4V 3AL[1]
URN
100003[1]

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

Pupils

Number on roll
1074 2024/25[18]
SEN support
15% 2024/25[18]
EHC plan
0% 2024/25[18]
Free school meals in the last 6 years
0% 2024/25[18]

Practicalities

Admissions contact
The admissions contact information includes the URL, email, and phone number provided in the document. 2026-10-14[19]
Occasional places
The school considers candidates for occasional places to join Third Form (Year 9) and Fourth Form (Year 10) as they arise, but does not admit pupils in Fifth Form (Year 11) or Senior Sixth (Year 13). Entry Sept 2027[20]

In the inspectors' and the school's words

Academic
Pupils’ examination results are well above the national averages at both GCSE and A level.[21]
Warmth
pupils behave well in lessons and are typically caring towards each other and happy at school.[21]
Pastoral care
Leaders support pupils’ emotional wellbeing through a cohesive pastoral care system. Staff spot early signs of concern, and pupils are confident to discuss their emotions and request support.[21]
Behaviour
Behaviour management is effective overall. However, staff do not ensure that all pupils consistently follow the rules for movement in the corridors[21]
Learning support
Leaders identify barriers to learning, including those which may be experienced by pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and provide effective tailored support As a result, pupils who have SEND make good progress.[21]
Enrichment
Leaders provide extensive recreational activities. These activities complement and extend the curriculum, further developing sporting, technical, aesthetic and creative skills.[21]
Pupil voice
Leaders cultivate a culture in which listening to pupils is integral. Mechanisms such as the ‘pupil parliament’ and the tutor system[21]
Independence
Older pupils are enabled to initiate and lead many of these activities due to teachers’ encouragement and willingness to support them.[21]
Collaboration
Collaborative activities, peer coaching, and classroom interactions develop pupils’ social skills.[21]
Structure
The behaviour policy contains clear expectations. Staff are proactive in addressing infractions.[21]
Diversity
Leaders have developed an inclusive culture, which values and celebrates diversity and fosters mutual respect. The regular assemblies programme allows pupils to choose between attending secular or one of four religious meetings[21]
Sport
An extensive range of extra-curricular activities support pupils’ holistic development, enhancing skills in sports, creativity, and leadership.[21]

Sources

  1. 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.
  2. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  6. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2023/24, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  7. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  8. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  9. 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.
  10. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2023/24, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  11. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  12. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  13. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  14. cityoflondonschool.org.uk: cityoflondonschool.org.uk — Entry. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (3)
    Registration deadline for applications Monday 2 November 2026 (p. 1)
    All registered applicants complete entrance assessments, which are held at CLS: An online assessment, lasting 105 minutes A creative writing task, lasting 30 minutes (p. 1)
    All registered candidates will be invited to the School on Friday 27 November 2026 to sit computerised assessments (p. 1)
  15. cityoflondonschool.org.uk: cityoflondonschool.org.uk — Entry. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quote
    All candidates registered by the registration deadline will sit the following assessments: Part 1: online assessment (105 minutes) Part 2: creative writing (30 minutes) (p. 1)
  16. cityoflondonschool.org.uk: cityoflondonschool.org.uk — Entry. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quote
    Registered candidates are invited to a day of assessments at CLS on Tuesday 6 October 2026. (p. 1)
  17. 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.
  18. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: School census. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  19. cityoflondonschool.org.uk: cityoflondonschool.org.uk — Entry. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (2)
    enquiries@cityoflondonschool.org.uk (p. 1)
    020 3680 6300 (p. 1)
  20. cityoflondonschool.org.uk: cityoflondonschool.org.uk — Occasional places. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (2)
    We consider candidates for occasional places to join Third Form (Year 9) and Fourth Form (Year 10) as they arise; we do not admit pupils in Fifth Form (Year 11) or Senior Sixth (Year 13). (p. 1)
    To join Fourth Form starting in September 2027, we may consider candidates in the Spring Term 2027. (p. 1)
  21. cityoflondonschool.org.uk: cityoflondonschool.org.uk — CLS Inspection Report 2024 (PDF). Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (16)
    An extensive range of extra-curricular activities support pupils' holistic development, enhancing skills in sports, creativity, and leadership (p. 3)
    pupils behave well in lessons and are typically caring towards each other and happy at school (p. 10)
    Pupils' examination results are well above the national averages at both GCSE and A level (p. 8)
    Leaders support pupils' emotional wellbeing through a cohesive pastoral care system (p. 3)
    Staff spot early signs of concern, and pupils are confident to discuss their emotions and request support (p. 3)
    Behaviour management is effective overall (p. 3)
    However, staff do not ensure that all pupils consistently follow the rules for movement in the corridors (p. 3)
    Leaders have developed an inclusive culture, which values and celebrates diversity and fosters mutual respect (p. 3)
    The regular assemblies programme allows pupils to choose between attending secular or one of four religious meetings (p. 10)
    The behaviour policy contains clear expectations. Staff are proactive in addressing infractions (p. 10)
    Leaders provide extensive recreational activities. These activities complement and extend the curriculum, further developing sporting, technical, aesthetic and creative skills (p. 9)
    Leaders cultivate a culture in which listening to pupils is integral. Mechanisms such as the 'pupil parliament' and the tutor system (p. 3)
    Older pupils are enabled to initiate and lead many of these activities due to teachers' encouragement and willingness to support them (p. 9)
    Collaborative activities, peer coaching, and classroom interactions develop pupils' social skills (p. 4)
    Leaders identify barriers to learning, including those which may be experienced by pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and provide effective tailored support (p. 3)
    As a result, pupils who have SEND make good progress (p. 3)