Ainslie Wood Primary School

About Ainslie Wood Primary School

Ainslie Wood Primary School is a mixed, state-funded primary in Waltham Forest, and its intake figures tell a story of a school in high demand. With 437 pupils on roll against a capacity of 420, the school is slightly over its official number, and the 2025/26 admissions data confirms just how sought-after it is. The school received 221 applications for 60 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.68, and of the 56 families who put it as their first preference, only 54 received offers. That level of competition suggests a strong local reputation. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 10.6%, which is notably lower than the national primary average of around 23%, indicating a relatively less disadvantaged intake compared with many other state schools in England. The school also has nursery provision for children aged three and above, feeding into the main school.

Academically, Ainslie Wood performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 84% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Waltham Forest average of 74%. That places the school 9th out of 48 primaries in the borough, putting it in the top 20% locally and the top 6% nationally. Scores in individual subjects are strong: average reading and maths scores of 108 and 107 respectively, with 42% of pupils reaching the higher standard in reading and 36% in maths. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, with personal development judged Outstanding. The early years provision, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management were all rated Good, consistent with its previous Good rating from 2012.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including playing fields, a forest school, an art studio, an ICT suite and a library, plus a chapel on site. Sports provision covers cricket, swimming, cross country and football, and there are clubs for art, film and drama. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. Given its oversubscription, families living close to the school and those who can demonstrate a strong connection will have the best chance of securing a place. It suits families who prioritise strong academic outcomes in a well-regarded local primary with a broad extracurricular offer.

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