Handsworth Primary School
About Handsworth Primary School
Handsworth Primary School is a popular choice among local families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 216 applications for just 58 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.72. Of those applications, 86 were first-preference choices, and all 58 places went to first-preference families. That kind of demand suggests a strong reputation in the Waltham Forest area. The school is a state primary for mixed genders, ages 4 to 11, with no religious character. It currently has 449 pupils on roll, which is slightly above its official capacity of 420. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 11.5 per cent, which is below the national average and points to a relatively mixed catchment. The headteacher is Claire Nairne, and the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2023, rated it Good across every category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.
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
20 Jun 2023Source: Ofsted, 21 Sept 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
5Facilities 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.
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