Welcome to Greenshaw High School, a school at which I am very proud to have worked at for the last two decades. I am delighted at how hard our students and staff work to ensure the best academic results, while I am equally proud that we have happy students and staff in our school. Our school being successful is pinned on the twin aims of strong wellbeing and academic excellence. This is not an ‘either, or’ – both are central to day-to-day life at Greenshaw High School.

We aim to give our youngest students a firm foundation of knowledge, before their formal examination courses begin. We teach our students in Year 7 to 9 The Big Ideas that Shaped the World, a sequence of lessons that explains cultural, philosophical and political development from ancient times to today. Alongside this, students in Year 7 to 10 follow a reading programme that, alongside the English curriculum, develops our young people's awareness of a range of literary themes and voices. We strongly believe it is our responsibility to develop the wider intellect, and in doing so, this deepens the knowledge displayed in public examinations.

At Greenshaw High School our students and staff work very hard to ensure the best results. In summer 2024, there were 177 passes at the highest score (a Grade 9) alone, and over four fifths of the year group achieved grade 4s, or significantly better, in Maths and English. Two students achieved all of their passes at Grade 9 – huge congratulations to Rhushil and Rokith. No fewer than eighty-one students achieved five passes at Grade 7 or higher (the equivalent of an A grade), and looking at the achievements across the whole year group, we are very proud of all of our students.

Amongst the annual celebrations of achievement, it is worth remembering what makes this group of students very different to any other. This year group is the group of students who started secondary school in 2019, and by March of Year 7, schools had closed because of the pandemic, and this year group did not complete their first year of secondary education in school. When they returned to learning at the start of Year 8, these students remained in the English corridor, being taught in a ‘bubble’. Then again, in January of Year 8, they returned home a second time when schools were closed and had their learning at home.

31% of all A Levels sat in summer 2024 were passed at A* or A grades, and 88% of all A Levels were passed at a C grade or higher. Both of these figures are significantly higher than the national equivalent. Five of our students achieved three A* grades, and no fewer than twenty-eight students achieved three A Levels at grade A or better.

Three Greenshaw students are headed to Oxbridge. Arnav is studying Engineering and Emily English Literature at Oxford, while Lucy is reading Law at Cambridge. We extend huge congratulations as well to Jath, who is studying Medicine at Kent University. Sixty of our students have been offered places at a Russell Group university, regarded as the most prestigious of university destinations.

Alongside the pursuit of academic excellence, we also have a key role in our students being happy and successful members of society. We do not want great exam results to come at the cost of young people’s wellbeing. All staff are aware of the importance of promoting student welfare, and we maintain a department of non-teaching staff to support students with mental health and wellbeing. I also believe that happiness comes from feeling engaged with your community and knowing that you are making a positive contribution. Students in our school have volunteered at food banks, collected items for a women’s refuge and raised funds for a cancer charity, all in Sutton. More widely, we have committed to global development with biennial expeditions overseas. Students and staff also support others around the world, like when we built community facilities in Zambia. We are planning a return trip next year with a group of staff and Sixth Form students. 

So, at Greenshaw High School we are committed to excellence in all aspects of students’ school life, whether academic, social or personal. This combination embodies the true values of education and underpins all aspects of our work.

Mr Nick House, Headteacher

“I just want to say a huge thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the education you have provided for our son. Given the challenges all the children faced in these past few years, we couldn't be happier with our son's GCSE results. When we first heard you at open evening, you talked about how you celebrate every child's success, and we feel that has been the case. We want to take this opportunity to thank every single staff member who made an impact and got him the results he deserved.” – a parent.