James Allen's Girls' School
Same Lewisham area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 18 August 2026
Sydenham & Dulwich Girls GDST is a private secondary-stage school in Lewisham, Greater London, with a published age range of 4-19.
Private school Girls Ages 4-19 Sixth form No boarders
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 4-19
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
Sydenham & Dulwich Girls GDST
1
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Girls only
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 4-19
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- ISI ?
- Standards met
Overview
Overview
Sydenham & Dulwich Girls GDST carries both a current identity and a recent former name. Previously known as Sydenham High School, it is now called Sydenham & Dulwich Girls GDST. It remains a girls' day school in the GDST network, covering ages 4 to 19, a sixth form and no boarding.
The senior curriculum offers 15 subjects from Year 7 and 28 A-level choices, with academic extension activities and co-curricular clubs adding breadth. GCSE preparation is paired with work aimed at independent thought and critical discussion. Academic scholarships begin at Year 7 entry, while enrichment is available across the senior years.
Sixth Form combines A-level study with the Extended Project Qualification, tailor-made enrichment and a professional skills programme. Transition into the sixth form is treated as a point for further challenge rather than simply a continuation of the timetable. The GDST setting adds a wider network, but the daily offer remains rooted in this South London girls' community.
Sixth-form applicants are considered through GCSE results, interview and a reference with predicted grades from their current setting. Subject-specific GCSE requirements apply to A-level choices. The name change is a useful practical caveat: Sydenham & Dulwich Girls GDST is the former Sydenham High School, not another GDST school.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths and 49 Attainment 8
- Sixth form
- Sixth form available with 27.8% AAB or better.
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Lewisham and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 49
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 0%
- EBacc APS
- 4.31
- EBacc entry
- 0%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Lewisham and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Girls only
- Age range
- 4-19
- Headmistress
- Ms Antonia Geldeard
- Pupil roll
- 716 pupils
- Sixth form
- Yes
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- 19 Westwood Hill, Sydenham, London, Greater London
- Postcode
- SE26 6BL
- Area
- Lewisham
School leadership
- Headmistress
- Ms Antonia Geldeard
School contact
- School phone
- 02085577000
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions phone
- 02085577000
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 4-19
- Gender
- Girls only
- Boarding
- No boarders
- Day fees
- Check school fees page
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Check school site
- Entrance details
- Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Admissions note
- GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Assessment route
- Apply direct to school
- Papers and stages
- 2 papers
- Format
- Mixed format
Papers and rounds
-
Paper 1
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning, Writing task, Interview
11+ (Year 7) entry assessment and interview
Apply Apply online 4 Assessments 11+ Entrance Assessments and Interviews (Year 7 entry) 11+ applicants will be invited to attend an Assessment Day on Wednesday 6 January 2027. The Entrance Assessment is designed to assess pupils’ academic potential and reasoning skills, including verbal, non‑verbal, spatial, and quantitative reasoning. Alongside these standardised assessments, applicants will complete a short writing task task and an observational extension activity. All applicants will also be invited to attend an individual interview on Saturday 9 January 2027 . During the interview, she will be asked to talk about something she is proud of or particularly enjoys.
-
Paper 2
Interview
Sixth Form (16+) entry interview and possible subject test
4 Assessments Admission is on the basis of an interview with the Head or the Head of Sixth Form and a good reference (with predicted GCSE grades) from the candidate’s current school. Occasionally, we may ask a girl to sit a short test in a particular subject or subjects.
Published assessment components
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning, Writing task and Interview are listed across the school's published assessment routes.
Published
-
Verbal reasoning
Apply Apply online 4 Assessments 11+ Entrance Assessments and Interviews (Year 7 entry) 11+ applicants will be invited to attend an Assessment Day on Wednesday 6 January 2027. The Entrance Assessment is designed to assess pupils’ academic potential and reasoning skills, including verbal, non‑verbal, spatial, and quantitative reasoning. Alongside these standardised assessments, applicants will complete a short writing task task and an observational extension activity. All applicants will also be invited to attend an individual interview on Saturday 9 January 2027 . During the interview, she will be asked to talk about something she is proud of or particularly enjoys.
-
Non-verbal reasoning
Apply Apply online 4 Assessments 11+ Entrance Assessments and Interviews (Year 7 entry) 11+ applicants will be invited to attend an Assessment Day on Wednesday 6 January 2027. The Entrance Assessment is designed to assess pupils’ academic potential and reasoning skills, including verbal, non‑verbal, spatial, and quantitative reasoning. Alongside these standardised assessments, applicants will complete a short writing task task and an observational extension activity. All applicants will also be invited to attend an individual interview on Saturday 9 January 2027 . During the interview, she will be asked to talk about something she is proud of or particularly enjoys.
-
Writing task
Apply Apply online 4 Assessments 11+ Entrance Assessments and Interviews (Year 7 entry) 11+ applicants will be invited to attend an Assessment Day on Wednesday 6 January 2027. The Entrance Assessment is designed to assess pupils’ academic potential and reasoning skills, including verbal, non‑verbal, spatial, and quantitative reasoning. Alongside these standardised assessments, applicants will complete a short writing task task and an observational extension activity. All applicants will also be invited to attend an individual interview on Saturday 9 January 2027 . During the interview, she will be asked to talk about something she is proud of or particularly enjoys.
-
Interview
Apply Apply online 4 Assessments 11+ Entrance Assessments and Interviews (Year 7 entry) 11+ applicants will be invited to attend an Assessment Day on Wednesday 6 January 2027. The Entrance Assessment is designed to assess pupils’ academic potential and reasoning skills, including verbal, non‑verbal, spatial, and quantitative reasoning. Alongside these standardised assessments, applicants will complete a short writing task task and an observational extension activity. All applicants will also be invited to attend an individual interview on Saturday 9 January 2027 . During the interview, she will be asked to talk about something she is proud of or particularly enjoys.
Application
Application
Key dates
Get date reminders-
11+ application deadline for 2027 entry
Friday 13 November 2026
Route: 11+ / Year 7; entry year: 2027.
-
11+ entrance assessment day for 2027 entry
Wednesday 6 January 2027
Route: 11+ / Year 7; entry year: 2027.
-
11+ interviews for 2027 entry
Saturday 9 January 2027
Route: 11+ / Year 7; entry year: 2027.
-
16+ application deadline for 2027 entry
Friday 16 October 2026
Route: 16+ / Sixth Form; entry year: 2027.
-
16+ offers for 2027 entry
Tuesday 1 December 2026
Route: 16+ / Sixth Form; entry year: 2027.
How to apply
- 1
Apply direct to the school
Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
Check school admissions
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 49 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 0% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 4.31 EBacc APS
- A-level results
- 27.8% AAB or better
- A-level average points
- 43.55 A-level points per entry
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: Not yet verified
- Leadership, management and governance
- Standards met
- Quality of education, training and recreation
- Standards met
- Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Standards met
- Social and economic education and contribution to society
- Standards met
- Safeguarding
- Standards met
Quick summary
- Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2024 is the latest report listed by ISI. The report says the relevant standards were met.
Similar schools and comparisons
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Shortlist comparisons
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Related pages and guides
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Area and ranking pages
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Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Sydenham & Dulwich Girls GDST handle admissions?
Sydenham & Dulwich Girls GDST handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to Sydenham & Dulwich Girls GDST?
1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
When are the key dates for Sydenham & Dulwich Girls GDST?
11+ application deadline for 2027 entry: Friday 13 November 2026. 11+ entrance assessment day for 2027 entry: Wednesday 6 January 2027. 11+ interviews for 2027 entry: Saturday 9 January 2027. 16+ application deadline for 2027 entry: Friday 16 October 2026. 16+ offers for 2027 entry: Tuesday 1 December 2026
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Sydenham & Dulwich Girls GDST?
Sydenham & Dulwich Girls GDST is currently rated Standards met.