Crown Lane Primary School
About Crown Lane Primary School
Crown Lane Primary School in Lambeth is a mixed state primary for ages 3 to 11 that currently teaches 253 pupils against a capacity of 420, meaning it is operating well below its physical maximum. However, that spare space does not reflect weak demand: for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 81 applications for just 30 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.7 to one. Of those, 24 were first-preference applications, and exactly 24 first-preference offers were made — so every family who put it first got a place, but the overall competition was stiff. The school’s free school meal rate stands at 35.2%, significantly above the national average for primary schools (around 23%), placing it in a relatively disadvantaged catchment. Headteacher Samantha Palin leads a school that, despite its modest size, clearly holds strong appeal for local families, particularly those who secure a first-choice spot.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Apr 2023Latest monitoring visit (20 Apr 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 15 Mar 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
09:00 – 15:15
Breakfast club
07:45-08:45
Source: crownlane.lambeth.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Crown Lane Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights