Welcome to Fortismere School, where I am privileged to serve as Headteacher. Having been part of this remarkable community since 2002, first as a teacher of English and pastoral leader, then as Director of Sixth Form, and now as Headteacher, I have witnessed firsthand the extraordinary commitment of our students, staff, and families to making Fortismere a place where every young person can flourish.

Fortismere is a high-achieving, creative community where academic ambition and personal growth go hand in hand. This is not simply an aspiration.  It defines everything we do. We are proud that our students consistently achieve outstanding results, with our 2025 GCSE cohort achieving an Attainment 8 score of 57.8 compared to the national average of 45.9, with 87% achieving grade 4 or above in English and Maths. Our A Level students achieved an average grade of B-, with nearly one in three grades awarded at A* or A, enabling 88% of our sixth formers to secure places at their preferred higher education institutions.

What makes me most proud is that exceptional outcomes are achieved by all our students. Our inclusive education provision, recognised through the prestigious SENDIA Award in 2025, ensures that students with SEND consistently outperform all students nationally. At GCSE, our SEND students achieved a 79% pass rate in English and Maths, 12 percentage points higher than the national pass rate for all students. This reflects our unwavering belief that every child deserves the opportunity to excel, regardless of their starting point.

Academic excellence at Fortismere is built on a foundation of strong relationships, mutual respect, and genuine care for each individual. We are a relationship-based school. We take time to know your children as individuals: their strengths, their challenges, their passions, and their aspirations. Our curriculum is ambitious, engaging, and broad, with particular strengths in the creative and expressive arts. We maintain a three-year Key Stage 3, ensuring our youngest students build firm foundations before their formal examination courses begin.

We recognise that school isn't always easy for every child. And because of the strength of our relationships, we spot when things aren't going well, and act. Our pastoral support, including our thriving Alternative Provision 'Finch' and our Autism Additional Resource Provision opening in September 2026, demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that every student receives the support they need to succeed. Beyond academic achievement, we develop articulate, confident, and socially responsible individuals. Our students benefit from extensive extracurricular opportunities from sport and music to drama and STEM, a comprehensive personal development programme, and strong careers education including work experience for all Year 10 students. Our mental health provision through Place2Be and GEMS supports student wellbeing.

We are also a community that looks beyond our school gates. Our students volunteer at food banks, support local charities, and engage with global development initiatives. We want them to leave Fortismere not only with results that reflect their true potential, but with a strong sense of self, an appreciation of difference, and a commitment to making a positive contribution to society.

As we look to the future, we are excited to be part of the Department for Education's School Rebuild Programme, which will transform our facilities while we continue to deliver the excellent education our community expects. We are fortunate to have a large 20-acre site, something quite rare for a London school, which provides real opportunity for sport, outdoor learning, and connection.

At Fortismere, we show commitment and courage. We do what's right, not what's easy. We are ambitious for every child. We celebrate diversity and belonging. We build relationships on kindness and trust. These are not simply words—they are the values that guide our daily practice and underpin all aspects of our work.

Zoe Judge
Headteacher