Danson Primary School

About Danson Primary School

Danson Primary School in Bexley is a popular choice among local families, and the numbers explain why. The school has capacity for 630 pupils but currently enrols 604, so it is running close to full. For the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 215 applications for just 78 places, making it oversubscribed with an oversubscription ratio of 2.76. Of those applications, 68 were first-preference offers, which suggests strong local demand. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 9.1%, which is notably lower than the national primary average of around 23%, indicating a relatively affluent intake. The school is non-religious, with no nursery provision, and is led by headteacher Leona Casey. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2025 rated it Good overall, with Outstanding marks for early years provision and leadership and management. The ungraded inspection noted that the school had improved significantly since its previous graded inspection in 2015.

Academically, Danson Primary performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 74% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Bexley average of 67%. This places the school 18th out of 55 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the top third locally and the top quarter nationally. Average scores were strong: 108 in reading and 107 in maths, both above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 18% of pupils achieved the top marks across all three subjects. Progress scores are not available in the data, but the attainment figures are solid. The school has held a Good rating across both its recent inspections, and the leadership team has been judged Outstanding, which suggests consistent academic management.

The school offers a wide range of facilities including an ICT suite, library, sensory room, art studios, gymnasium, playing fields, and a forest school. Sports provision includes dance, rounders, football and cross country, while clubs cover book club, chess, coding and drama. SEND support is well developed, with provisions for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, multi-sensory impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 85% of respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that children are happy, safe, and well-behaved. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes in a well-resourced, oversubscribed setting, and who are prepared to compete for a place in a popular Bexley primary.

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