Woolwich Poly is one of the largest boys’ secondary schools in the country, age range of 11-18, (co-educational in the Sixth Form), located in Thamesmead, South East London. The school was designated a Technology College in 1997 specialising in mathematics, design and technology, science and information and communication technology.

Thamesmead has a lower level of residents born in the UK (69%) than the national average and a higher rate of residents either born in other EU countries or outside the EU (31%).

The School has a high level of ethnicity. The census from May 2018 shows that 81 languages are spoken and only 46% of boys speak English as first language. A large number of boys are in the early stages of learning English as an additional language (EAL) and the school provides a specialist EAL department with Learning Support assistants, who are fluent in an extensive range of languages. The school currently has approximately 15% of students taking free school meals. This number has dropped considerably over the last few years. The school has a specialist dyslexia centre to cater for the boys’ needs (the only dyslexia centre in the local authority). The school also has a strong Gifted and Talented department where the most able students are stimulated through the provision of challenging learning experiences.