Merry Christmas from WLFS! 🎄❄️🎅☃️🎁🔔

The newly reformed Chamber Choir performed carols at Painters’ Hall for the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers. The Master, David Hitchcock OBE, praised the West London Free School’s music specialism and the pupils’ musicianship and professionalism.

WLFS took on the annual #GCHQChristmasChallenge. Our 2025 GCHQ code-breaking champions are: Alice, Salma (Year 13), Rosie, Sophia, Kaitlynn (Year 12), Alexa (Year 10), Tahlia (Year 9), Isabella (Year 8) and Kilian (Year 7)! Thank you WLFS Foundation for funding our prizes!

Yr8/9 Art Scholars visited The Riverside Studios to see the Alumni Art Exhibition. The club had painted the cardboard letters in the Riverside Window with impressive vigour and strong colours. Pupils discussed displaying work in an exhibition, selling work and picked favourites.

Joint Headteachers Mr McLaughlin and Mr Peal delighted to see West London Free School winning Sunday Times Comprehensive School of the Year in today’s Parent Power supplement. A big well done to the pupils, families, staff and friends of the school who have made this possible.

We are thrilled to announce that West London Free School has been chosen as State Comprehensive School of the Year by The Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide 2026! Read the article here: https://www.thetimes.com/best-schools-league-table/secondary/article/best-schools-london-2026-2pxstdcqd

Year 10 attended their first Life-Drawing session with Art Tech Mr Hamper-Potts this week. These results for a first attempt are highly impressive! Observational skills are so important for developing a confident approach to any type of drawing. Well done to those who attended.

Many congratulations to Maia (9A) for completing the silver category in the Valerie John Reading Prize. Maia read 6 classic and award-winning, contemporary novels and is now aiming for gold to be the first pupil in the history of the prize to complete bronze, silver and gold.

The Orchestra and Wind Band enjoyed a retreat in the South Downs last week, rehearsing for upcoming concerts and making the most of the beautiful weather with a long walk, followed by a fun Games Night! A huge thanks to Mr Thorne and staff for making it a memorable experience.

Congratulations to Lukas, Azaria, Muhammad, Gianmarco, Evangelos, and Elizabeth. Their work was selected from over 500 entries across 25 London schools and has been published in the Wimbledon Book Fest Young Writers’ Competition 2025 anthology.

We are celebrating some amazing news at WLFS. Last week, the DfE released the initial national data for the 2025 GCSE results. Of all 3,000+ comprehensive secondary schools in England, WLFS ranks 4th best in the country for pupils’ Attainment 8 score!

Yr11 GCSE Photography students were invited to use Latymer Upper’s darkroom to create analogue prints from digital images using microfilm and chemicals. Inspired by Renaissance drapery and Caravaggio, they also made hand silhouettes- an eye-opening digital vs analogue experience!

Our Public Speaking Competition winners at South Hampstead High School's Autumn Competition. Despite some excellent speeches, our students didn’t quite make it to the final round – but they conducted themselves with grace and good-will, and really impressed the judges! Bravo!

Year 7 book clubbers Neal, Leon and Kelechi engrossed in Postcards from Valhalla by Danny Wallace, the book they have chosen to read from this year’s Trinity Schools Book Award shortlist 📖 https://www.trinityschoolsaward.com/

Many congratulations to Evangelos (Year 8) for reading ten classic and award-winning, contemporary books to achieve the gold category in the Valerie John Reading Prize, generously funded by @wlfs_pta 📚

From Issac Asimov’s iRobot to Alice with a Why by Anna James, Mrs Eastwood was thrilled to collect 6 new books for our library thanks to parents who have donated their points to the school via the Free Books For Schools scheme at @everybody­_reads book shop!

Ms Lonsdale has started this year’s Paired Reading programme during Form Time session in the Library. Year 7/8 pupils have been paired up with Year 12 volunteer buddies, who are kindly mentoring these pupils to improve their reading fluency, vocabulary, and enjoyment of books!

GCSE results at the WLFS have taken another stride forwards, with WLFS pupils receiving the best set of GCSE results ever for the school. #WLFSresults For more information about our results, visit:https://www.wlfs.org/About/2025-GCSE-Results

Our GCSE results will place us amongst the top state comprehensive schools in the country for attainment, and above a large number of selective schools. This is an enormous achievement for our pupils, and a testament to the exemplary efforts of our staff. #WLFSresults

Some highlights from Year 7's trip to the Butser Ancient Farm! Everyone had a great time learning about ancient cultures and trying their hand at mosaic making and spinning wool.

Year 9 had a brilliant trip to the Bluebell Railway! Despite the challenging weather conditions, the pupils loved the novelty of riding the old train and enjoyed looking at the other models in the museum at Horsted Keynes!

Another incredible activity from activities week! Year 8 had a blast at Go Ape.

Year 9 had an amazing time on an Inflatable Assault Course and playing Zorb Football over activities week!

Year 7 had a brilliant day at the Science Museum, exploring STEM careers in the Careers Uncovered workshop and discovering hands-on science in the Wonderlab. Highlights included historic inventions, early aircraft, and a sunny lunch in Hyde Park.

Year 8 enjoyed a great trip to Greenwich during Activities Week! After a scenic Thames Clipper ride past iconic riverside landmarks, we explored Greenwich Park and the National Maritime Museum  - highlights included Nelson’s jacket, Scott’s expedition boots, and a Fijian canoe.

A joyful event organised by the Music department! This year the theme was Country and the winners were the Corinthians (in their red cowboy hats!) voted for by the Y10 and Y12 choirs who judged and also performed.

Year 9 explored the stunning gardens of Kew last week for Activities Week, they explored a variety of incredible plant life!

Sadie (Y12) entered the Gresham College National Oracy competition and ended up in the final!. We are delighted to announce that she came 3rd nationwide, receiving a Bronze medal and winning £500 and £200 for the school. An epic achievement and richly deserved. Well done, Sadie!

Year 7 took on the North Downs Walk during Activities Week, tackling the hills and taking in the views!

Y9 Group 1 were brilliant on their V&A trip! Legend of the day went to Oliver M for his enthusiasm, team spirit in Hyde Park rounders, and kindness. Students also visited the Earth Photography exhibition and Giuseppe Penone at the Serpentine.