Established in 1834, Forest is an outstanding all-round school, offering a breadth and depth of opportunity in which pupils’ personal development is exceptional and academic attainment very high. It is, above all, a happy school which understands the rich inter-relationship between curricular, the co-curricular and the pastoral. The school is located on a 45-acre site at the edge of the capital’s largest open space, Epping Forest.
There are currently 1,590 pupils in the School – 830 boys and 760 girls. All pupils share the main school campus, and facilities such as the Chapel, Dining Hall, Sports Hall, playing fields, Deaton Theatre, and the Martin Centre for Innovation. Sixth Form pupils enjoy use of a dedicated Sixth Form Centre, including collaborative IT workspaces, group study areas and a careers room.
Curriculum. Academic enrichment, learning and personal development are the natural outcomes of Forest’s holistic approach to education, which enables our pupils to grow in a diverse and progressive community before they progress beyond our ‘White Gates’ to a career or university of their choice. While nearly 80% of Foresters progress to Russell Group universities, a growing number are accessing competitive degree apprenticeships, Art and Music conservatoires, and are applying to study abroad. A rich core academic curriculum in the first years of the pupils’ time at Forest is progressively augmented by opportunities to reflect thoughtfully on personal development and form a more individualised academic curriculum as they progress and grow.
In Y7–Y9, a broad range of core subjects is taught, including Modern and Classical Languages (French, German and Spanish), incorporating the three Sciences. Forest also introduced Dialectic and Civics as part of the core curriculum in Years 7 and 8, which explicitly teaches the power of rhetoric, oracy, critical thinking, careful listening and agreeable disagreement. As part of this exciting course, pupils study aspects of citizenship education, and the threats, challenges and opportunities facing humanity in the 21st century. At GCSE, all pupils follow a core curriculum of English Language & Literature, a Modern Foreign Language, Maths and Science (separate or Double Award, according to preference), as well as a choice from around 15 optional subjects. A distinctive feature of the Forest curriculum is that all pupils also submit work for the Higher Project Qualification (HPQ) – a research-based dissertation on a subject of the pupil’s own choosing, following a taught course of critical thinking and project skills, and then assessed at GCSE level.
In the Sixth Form, pupils take the Sixth Form Curriculum which has a particular emphasis on Personal Development. A levels provide the core academic element and Sixth Formers can choose from a diverse array of 29 different A level subjects (with Psychology and Music Technology being added in 2024), with most choosing three main subjects, examined at the end of the two-year course, and taught in small teaching groups of typically around 10 to 15 pupils. All Sixth Form Curriculum pupils begin a course in Project Skills in Year 12 and will produce an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), which may take the form of a dissertation-style essay, or ‘creative artefact’, such as a film, composition or even a computer program. Sixth Formers Personal Development curriculum is centred on the seven core values of Forest School: Community, Diversity, Growth, Hard Work, Learning, Responsibility and Wellbeing.
The school places considerable emphasis on teaching the effective use of Information and Communications Technology. Every pupil in the Senior School is required to have with them a keyboard-enabled device in school, and all pupils are trained in the use of mobile devices as appropriate tools to best leverage learning. All teachers incorporate digital materials and applications within their teaching, when the learning task would stand to benefit from it. Computer Science, with an emphasis on programming, is available from Year 7 as an academic subject. Pupils also learn about how to best harness Artificial Intelligence and how to safeguard their academic integrity all through the Senior School.
Additionally, all pupils – from Year 7 to Year 13 – are engaged in a robust and sequenced programme of reflection, study and assessment in Relationships, Sex and Health Education. This is a critical subject at Forest and ensures that all of our learners are able to fully understand and be equipped for the increasingly complex world which they inhabit.
The curriculum is augmented by a wide range of timetabled academic super-curricular activities which supplement the core curriculum and which cultivate cultural and aesthetic appreciation, critical thinking and develop problem-solving skills. Lessons in additional languages such as Italian and Russian are offered, as well as opportunities to develop skills through Science and Maths competitions, partnership work with universities, participation in MOOCs and multiple opportunities to attend ‘Lookout Lectures’ featuring diverse national and international leaders from the realms of business, civil society, science and culture.
Co-curriculum. The School has a large music department with more than 50 visiting staff teaching a wide range of instruments and voice. Regular concerts take place in School venues and outside, including House Music and national competitions. Drama offers three major productions per year alongside House Drama competitions, and regular showings for curricular Drama. Art presents exhibitions and cross-curricular projects with English and other departments. The PE department boasts a heritage of sporting excellence for both girls and boys in a wide range of both mainstream and less conventional sports, with pupils regularly selected at district, county and national level. Other activities include Forest’s Combined Cadet Force, which is linked to the Royal Green Jackets, and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme which offers Bronze, Silver and Gold levels with high completion rates at all stages. Pupils can choose anything from chess to technology, debating to drama, or a wide range of musical activities to some of the best sporting offerings. Pupils participate in a diverse programme of activities that encourage the learning of physical, cultural and leadership skills throughout their time at Forest. The co-curricular programme at Forest builds and develops five core principles – Creativity, Challenge, Culture, Community and Careers.
Games. The main games for boys are association football, hockey, cricket and athletics. The main games for girls are hockey, netball, cricket, football and athletics. The sporting facilities are extensive and include an all-weather AstroTurf facility, tennis and netball courts, indoor and outdoor cricket nets, gym, sports hall, two swimming pools, strength and conditioning suite, 5-a-side 3G and acres of sporting fields. Additional sports such as swimming, tennis, basketball, fencing, scuba diving, squash, mountain biking, table tennis, badminton and water polo are also available to boys and girls.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Reception to Year 2: £6,280, Year 3: £6,705, Year 4 to 6: £7,245, Year 7 to 13: £8,950. Fee reductions are available for children of the Clergy.
Careers. Many of the pupils go on to take up places at Oxford, Cambridge, Russell Group universities, Conservatoires, and prestigious Arts colleges. However, Forest is successful at placing pupils in professional apprenticeships with companies including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Morgan Stanley, Deloitte and Crowe.
Admission – Preparatory School. Entry point to the Prep School is 4+ and 7+. In principle, pupils are assessed on the basis of:
4+ entry
A series of low-key activities which include: picture recognition, some letter recognition, following a pattern, knowing colours, counting, drawing, naming simple shapes, sequencing, listening to a story, playing and responding sensibly to the adults who are present.
7+ entry
A standardised assessment on a computer, a reading comprehension, a short piece of writing, an age-appropriate maths test and some group activity.
Admissions – Senior School. In principle, pupils are assessed based on:
11+ entry
•Performance in an entrance assessment
•Performance in a collaborative task
•An interview with a senior member of staff
•A written confidential report from the present school
16+ entry
•Performance in an entrance examination
•An interview with a senior member of staff
•A written confidential report from the present school
•Predicted Grades
•Recent School report
Entry into the Forest Sixth Form requires at least three grade 7s or above; and at least three grade 6s or above; and at least grade 5 in English and Maths; and the required grade at I/GCSE in the qualifying subject/s required for their chosen courses.
Scholarships and bursaries are available at 11+ and 16+ entry. Scholarships are awarded for outstanding academic ability and exceptional attainment in Art, Drama, Music and Sport. The maximum non-means-tested fee remission awarded in respect of any one pupil is 20% of full fees, whether in one area of excellence or in a combination of one or more areas of excellence.
Bursaries are means-tested and are awarded in addition to Scholarships, up to and including the total remission of fees; in other words, a free place. Bursaries are only given in conjunction with a Scholarship.
Charitable status. Forest School, London is a Registered Charity, number 312677. The objective of the School is Education.
Governors & Staff:
Governing Council:
Chairman of Governors: David Wilson, LLB Hons, FRSA, FRGS
Dr Steven Berryman
Jane Davies
William Fuller
Yemisi Gibbons
Dr Saniya Hadi, BSc Hons, MBBS, MRCOG
Neena Lall OBE
Simon Perry
Paul Sampat
Leadership Team:
Warden: Mr M Cliff Hodges, BA University College Cardiff, MA University College London
Bursar: Mrs D E Coombs, BSc Cape Town, Hons BA, MBA Stellenbosch
Head of Preparatory School: Mr J E R Sanderson, BMus Perf Hons Elder Conservatorium, BMus Adelaide, FRSA, FCCT
Deputy Head Staffing and Operations: Mrs J A Stewart, BA University of the West of Scotland, MEd The University of Buckingham, FCCT, CMgr
Deputy Head Academic: Mr M E Key, BA Birmingham, MA Warwick, MSt Oxon
Deputy Head Pastoral: Mrs N Milton, BA Roehampton, NPQH
Deputy Head Safeguarding. Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mr J H Kayne, BSc Nottingham Trent, NPQH
Director of External Communications and Engagement: Mrs S Pinkerton, LLB University of Exeter, LLM Aberystwyth University
Head of Sixth Form: Ms K Spencer Ellis, MA Oxon
Head of Middle School: Ms L E Lechmere-Smith, BA Sheffield
Head of Lower School: Mr J T Sloan, BA Royal Holloway, University of London
Heads of Subject Departments:
Art: Mr J W Stevenson
Biology: Miss L K Chandler
Chemistry: Mr A Barlow
Classics: Ms R K Jeffries
Computer Science: Mr M S Jalowiecki
Design and Technology: Mr H Ibrahim
Dialectics and Civics: Ms A L Ewing
Drama: Mrs S L Moon
Economics and Business: Ms C Morgan
English: Mrs C L Nightingale
Food and Nutrition: Ms S Roberts
French: Dr A Gray
Geography: Mr E W Morris
German: Mrs H P R Miller
History: Mr H W Clough
Learning Support: Mrs M Wright
Mandarin: Mrs L Chen
Mathematics: Mr S Jeffery
Modern Foreign Languages: Mr R N Sokhal
Music: Mr L A Pares
Physical Education: Mr M L Broughton
Physics: Mr P T S Aspery
Politics: Mr C A Saffrey
Projects: Ms E E Newman
Psychology: Ms A Moffat
RSHE: Ms E L Arthur
Religious Studies & Philosophy: Miss R Mackie
Spanish: Ms P Cordon
Houses:
Boys’ Houses:
Bishop’s: Mr O E Ling
Copeland’s: Mrs H P R Miller
Doctor’s: Ms L Nash
Guy’s: Mr L Bouzguenda
Johnians: Mr J Miller
Miller’s: Mrs S Buff
Poole’s: Mr C Heelan
Girls’ Houses:
Astell: Miss C A Heath
Baylis: Mrs J Wyn-Thomas
Eliot: Ms H R Bettridge
Franklin: Mrs H Cole
Hepworth: Ms F C Rae
Kingsley: Ms G H Green
School: Ms A Pavesi
Support Staff:
Admissions:
Registrar: Ms D Cleveland-Hurley
Assistant Registrar: Ms R Begum
Admissions Administrator: Mr C Cheung
Bursar’s Office:
Chief Accountant: Mr N Asghar, BA East London
Assistant Accountant: Ms T Jones
Accounts Clerk: Mrs E Kearney
Assistant Accounts Clerk: Ms S Morl
Accounts Assistant: Ms Louise Jenkins
Clerk to the Governors: Ms A Crawley