School WiselyBeta

University College School[1]

Independent · ages 4–18

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Headline results

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

Results

GCSE (key stage 4)

Attainment 8
25.7 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 15.9[5] 0%[5]
2023/24 20.3[6] 0%[6]
2022/23 18.7[7] 0%[7]
2021/22 19.4[8] 0%[8]

A level (16–18)

A-level average grade
A 2024/25[2]
AAB or better, at least two in facilitating subjects
54.6% 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] 55.8%[10]
2022/23 A-[11] 57.1%[11]
2021/22 A+[12] 71.7%[12]
2018/19 A[13] 60.7%[13]

Ofsted

No published data for this school.

Competition to get in

Admissions

Places (published admission number), 11+ entry
60 Entry Sept 2027[14]
Test registration closes
9 Nov 2026 Entry Sept 2027[14]
Entrance test
written English and Maths tests Entry Sept 2026[15]
Entrance test date
6 Jan 2027 Entry Sept 2027[14]

Character & practicalities

Type
Other independent school[1]
Ages
4–18[1]
Boys / girls
Mixed[1]
Sixth form
Yes[1]
Boarding
No boarders[1]
Capacity
1318[1]
Local authority
Camden[1]
Website
http://www.ucs.org.uk/[1]
District
Camden[16]
Postcode
NW3 6XH[1]
URN
100065[1]

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

Pupils

Number on roll
1305 2024/25[17]
SEN support
17.2% 2024/25[17]
EHC plan
0.1% 2024/25[17]
Free school meals in the last 6 years
0% 2024/25[17]

Practicalities

Admissions contact
The admissions contact details for UCS include the URL, email, and phone number provided in the document. Entry Sept 2027[18]
Open events
The 11+ Open Evening for the Senior School is scheduled for Monday 12th October 2026 and is marked as fully booked. Entry Sept 2027[19]

In the inspectors' and the school's words

Academic
The curriculum creates a high level of academic and intellectual ambition. This is a significant strength. As typically seen in the Junior Branch when pupils were challenged to identify missing numbers in complex codes[20]
Warmth
Mutual respect and inclusivity pervade all aspects of life across the school.[20]
Pastoral care
Leaders have established a strong pastoral system in which tutors and teachers have been well trained in understanding the needs and interests of their pupils.[20]
Behaviour
Pupils and staff consistently demonstrate high levels of mutual respect across the school which helps to ensure high standards of behaviour are maintained.[20]
Learning support
Some younger pupils who have SEND receive targeted support outside lessons. As a result, pupils who have SEND make good progress. In the early years, some children who speak EAL receive additional vocabulary support in small groups.[20]
Enrichment
The co-curricular programme is extensive with opportunities in sport, music, drama and many different clubs and societies Not all pupils are equally involved in the activities programme[20]
Pupil voice
Children in the Pre-Prep elect representatives to the “pre-prep parliament”. For example, through the reorganisation of assemblies in the Junior Branch and increased games options for older pupils.[20]
Independence
Children in the early years grow in confidence and independence as a result of a well-considered curriculum the curriculum provides many opportunities for pupils, from a young age, to choose their learning pathways[20]
Collaboration
There are many opportunities for collaborative play and more structured tasks, enabling the children to learn from each other. Younger pupils benefit from opportunities to learn from and with older pupils, such as through the Junior Morris lectures.[20]
Structure
Regular reflection takes place throughout each day with “calming moments” and “movement breaks”. The school’s focus on restorative justice enables pupils to reflect on their actions and learn from their mistakes.[20]
Diversity
English is an additional language for 221 pupils. They are given opportunities to see the wider world through different cultural perspectives.[20]
Sport
The physical health of pupils is promoted through a curriculum that not only emphasises the importance of physical education (PE), but also ensures that there is a broad range of individual and team sports included in the activities programme.[20]

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. ucs.org.uk: ucs.org.uk — Year 7. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (3)
    There are approximately 60 places available to join Year 7 each year. (p. 1)
    The deadline for applications to be submitted is Monday 9th November 2026 at 5pm. (p. 1)
    The 2027 assessments are confirmed to take place on Wednesday 6th January 2027. (p. 1)
  15. ucs.org.uk: ucs.org.uk — Year 4. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quote
    The entrance assessment will consist of written English and Maths tests. (p. 1)
  16. 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.
  17. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: School census. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  18. ucs.org.uk: ucs.org.uk — Reception. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (2)
    Our friendly and experienced Admissions team will be happy to answer any enquiries you have, and to guide you through each stage of the process. Please call 020 7722 4433, or email [email protected]. (p. 1)
    If you have any queries, wish to send additional information or documents, or would like to make any comments, please contact the Admissions team at [email protected], or call us on 020 7722 4433. (p. 1)
  19. ucs.org.uk: ucs.org.uk — Open evenings school tours. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (2)
    The next set of Open Evenings for both entry points to the Senior School will take place during Autumn Term 2026, prior to the respective application deadlines. (p. 1)
    11+ Open Evenings: Monday 12th October (Fully Booked) (p. 1)
  20. reports.isi.net: reports.isi.net document (PDF). Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (20)
    The physical health of pupils is promoted through a curriculum that not only emphasises the importance of physical education (PE), but also ensures that there is a broad range of individual and team sports included in the activities programme (p. 10)
    Mutual respect and inclusivity pervade all aspects of life across the school (p. 12)
    The curriculum creates a high level of academic and intellectual ambition. This is a significant strength (p. 3)
    As typically seen in the Junior Branch when pupils were challenged to identify missing numbers in complex codes (p. 8)
    Leaders have established a strong pastoral system in which tutors and teachers have been well trained in understanding the needs and interests of their pupils (p. 10)
    Pupils and staff consistently demonstrate high levels of mutual respect across the school which helps to ensure high standards of behaviour are maintained (p. 10)
    English is an additional language for 221 pupils (p. 16)
    They are given opportunities to see the wider world through different cultural perspectives (p. 12)
    Regular reflection takes place throughout each day with "calming moments" and "movement breaks" (p. 10)
    The school's focus on restorative justice enables pupils to reflect on their actions and learn from their mistakes (p. 10)
    The co-curricular programme is extensive with opportunities in sport, music, drama and many different clubs and societies (p. 9)
    Not all pupils are equally involved in the activities programme (p. 9)
    Children in the Pre-Prep elect representatives to the "pre-prep parliament" (p. 12)
    For example, through the reorganisation of assemblies in the Junior Branch and increased games options for older pupils (p. 6)
    Children in the early years grow in confidence and independence as a result of a well-considered curriculum (p. 3)
    the curriculum provides many opportunities for pupils, from a young age, to choose their learning pathways (p. 8)
    There are many opportunities for collaborative play and more structured tasks, enabling the children to learn from each other (p. 8)
    Younger pupils benefit from opportunities to learn from and with older pupils, such as through the Junior Morris lectures (p. 8)
    Some younger pupils who have SEND receive targeted support outside lessons. As a result, pupils who have SEND make good progress (p. 8)
    In the early years, some children who speak EAL receive additional vocabulary support in small groups (p. 8)