Earlham Primary School

About Earlham Primary School

Earlham Primary School is significantly oversubscribed, a clear signal of its standing in the Newham community. For the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 215 applications for just 60 places, with 73 families listing it as their first preference. That works out at roughly 3.6 applications per place, and only 58 first-preference offers were made, meaning even families who put it top of their list faced competition. The school currently has 464 pupils on roll, which is 44 above its official capacity of 420, so it is running full and then some. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 40.1%, well above the national average for primary schools and reflective of the borough’s demographic profile. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, taking children from age 3 through to 11, with nursery provision available for the youngest children.

Academically, Earlham is one of the strongest primaries in Newham. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, it was rated Outstanding across every category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This is an upgrade from its previous Good rating in 2013. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 84% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, comfortably above the Newham local authority average of 74%. The school also excels at stretching its pupils: 19% achieved the higher standard in all three subjects, and in maths specifically, 56% of pupils scored at the higher level, with an average scaled score of 111. In reading, 51% reached the higher standard, and in writing, 28% did. These results place Earlham 17th out of 61 primaries in Newham, putting it in the top 10% of schools in the borough.

The school offers a strong set of facilities and enrichment activities that give a sense of its character. There is a library, playing fields, an ICT suite, a sensory room, a forest school area and even a chapel. Sports provision includes athletics, netball, swimming, football, cross country, rounders and tennis. Clubs range from coding and book club to gardening, drama and film club, so there is variety for different interests. The school’s SEND provisions cover speech, language and communication needs, autistic spectrum disorder, social, emotional and mental health needs, and other difficulties or disabilities. For families considering Earlham, the key takeaway is that it is a high-demand, high-performing school that is already oversubscribed, so applying as a first preference is strongly advised. It suits families who want a proven academic track record alongside a broad enrichment offer, and who are comfortable with a large, diverse inner-London primary that is operating above its official capacity.

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