Elfrida Primary School

About Elfrida Primary School

Elfrida Primary School’s Key Stage 2 results sit well below the Lewisham local authority average, which is a stark contrast for parents considering this school. In the 2023/24 academic year, just 27% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a borough average of 64%. That puts Elfrida at the very bottom of the 59 primary schools in Lewisham, ranking 59th out of 59. The school’s ranking score of 27 places it in the bottom 50 nationally, and within London it sits in the 99.5th percentile of schools — meaning almost every other school in the capital outperforms it on this measure. The individual subject scores tell a similar story: 49% reached the expected level in reading, 39% in maths, and 51% in writing. Only 12% of pupils achieved a higher standard in reading, 10% in maths, and none in writing. For families focused on academic attainment, these figures are a clear red flag.

That said, the school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2012 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in June 2022 confirmed the school remains Good, suggesting that while exam results are weak, inspectors still see quality in other areas. The previous inspection in 2010 had rated the school Requires Improvement, so the Good rating represents an upgrade. The school serves a significantly disadvantaged intake: 37.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, more than double the national average. This context matters when interpreting results, as schools with high levels of deprivation often face greater challenges in achieving top academic outcomes. There is no Progress 8 data available for this primary school, so it’s not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to its intake.

Elfrida is a two-form entry primary with nursery provision for children aged two and above, and it was oversubscribed for 2025/26: 27 first-preference applications for 27 places, with 66 total applications giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.44. The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sports hall, ICT suite, art studios, library and chapel, and runs clubs such as film, chess, drama, eco and book club. Sports on offer include cricket, cross country, dance, netball, athletics and football. SEND provision is extensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech and language issues, visual impairment, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes Elfrida a potentially strong fit for families whose children have identified special educational needs, particularly given the school’s willingness to support a wide range of conditions. For families prioritising academic league tables, however, the data suggests looking at higher-performing local options such as Haberdashers' Hatcham Free School or St Augustine’s Catholic Primary.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Elfrida Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents