Halley Primary School
About Halley Primary School
Halley Primary School in Tower Hamlets is a smaller-than-average state primary, currently home to 204 pupils against a capacity of 240. That 85% occupancy rate suggests there’s room to grow, but the real story is in demand: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 50 applications for just 10 places, an oversubscription ratio of 5:1. Every one of those 10 first-preference applicants got an offer, but with four times as many total applications as places, competition is fierce. The school’s intake reflects a diverse community — 36.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average of around 23%, placing Halley firmly in the context of a borough where disadvantage is common. Headteacher Shoshannah Thompson leads a mixed, non-denominational school with nursery provision, and the pupil body is spread across the full primary age range from 3 to 11.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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
28 Mar 2023Source: Ofsted, 26 May 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
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 – 15:20
Source: halley.towerhamlets.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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