Dorothy Barley Infants' School
About Dorothy Barley Infants' School
Dorothy Barley Infants' School is a state primary for children aged 3 to 7 in Barking and Dagenham, and it is currently running well below its physical capacity. With 240 pupils on roll against a school capacity of 360, there is significant room for growth, yet the school is heavily oversubscribed in practice. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 133 applications for just 46 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.89. All 46 first-preference applicants were offered a place, meaning that securing a spot here is competitive but achievable for families who list it as their top choice. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 15.3 per cent, which is notably lower than the national primary average of around 23 per cent, suggesting the school draws from a slightly more advantaged local catchment. The school has a nursery provision, so families with three-year-olds can get a foot in the door early. Headteacher Lauren Pearce leads a mixed, non-religious school that has no formal religious character.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 27 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, 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
25 Jun 2025Latest monitoring visit (25 Jun 2025): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 8 Sept 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
7Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:15
Breakfast club
07:00-08:50
After-school care
15:15-17:45
Source: dorothybarleyinfant.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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