Galleywall Primary, City of London Academy

About Galleywall Primary, City of London Academy

Galleywall Primary, City of London Academy sits within Southwark, a London borough with 67 state primary schools, 17 of which currently hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating. The school itself ranks 32nd out of 60 primaries in the local authority on the key stage 2 expected standard measure, placing it just inside the top half of Southwark schools. The top-performing peers in the borough are Boutcher Church of England Primary School, The Cathedral School of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, and Riverside Primary School, all of which achieve higher ranking scores. Galleywall’s nearest Outstanding-rated neighbour is Ilderton Primary School, located 0.6 kilometres away. The school is led by headteacher Martin Blain and serves 371 pupils against a capacity of 420, with 42 per cent of children eligible for free school meals — a figure well above the national average, reflecting the diverse and disadvantaged catchment it serves.

In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2019, Galleywall was judged Outstanding across all three available categories: overall effectiveness, leadership and management, and early years provision. A subsequent ungraded inspection in January 2025 confirmed that standards have been maintained. At key stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year, 67 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is just one point below the Southwark local authority average of 68 per cent. However, the school’s writing results were notably strong, with 93 per cent of pupils meeting the expected standard and 33 per cent working at a higher level. Reading scores were more mixed: 74 per cent reached the expected standard, with 28 per cent achieving a higher score, while the average reading score was 105. In maths, 76 per cent met the expected standard and the average scaled score was 103. Nationally, the school ranks 5,324th out of 13,686 primaries on the expected standard metric.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 103 applications for just 30 places, with only 23 first-preference offers made — an oversubscription ratio of 3.43 applicants per place. Facilities include a library, sensory room, dining hall, gymnasium, playing fields and art studios, and the school offers clubs in science, art and coding, plus sports such as tennis, netball, gymnastics, athletics and dance. Galleywall provides support for a wide range of special educational needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Parent View responses from 81 families between September 2024 and September 2025 show that 73 per cent would recommend the school, though opinions on SEND support were sharply divided: 46 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that SEND children receive the help they need, while 54 per cent disagreed or strongly disagreed. This school will suit families who value a strong academic core with particular strength in writing, and who are comfortable navigating a highly competitive admissions process.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Galleywall Primary, City of London Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents