Heber Primary School
103%
Capacity
434
Pupils
4.6x
Demand
About Heber Primary School
Heber Primary School in Southwark is a state primary for children aged 3 to 11, and it is clearly a popular choice among local families. The school currently has 434 pupils on roll, slightly above its official capacity of 420, which suggests it is running full. The demand is confirmed by the admissions data for the 2025/26 intake: the school received 278 applications for just 60 places, an oversubscription ratio of 4.63 to one. Of those, 84 families put Heber as their first preference, and 55 of those were offered a place. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 14.2%, which is lower than the national average for primary schools, indicating a relatively less deprived intake compared with many schools nationally. The school has no religious character, and it offers nursery provision for children from age three.
Academically, Heber performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 78% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Southwark local authority average of 68%. This places the school 14th out of 60 primary schools in the borough, comfortably in the top quarter. A closer look at the individual subjects shows strong results: 85% of pupils met the expected standard in both reading and maths, with average scaled scores of 111 and 110 respectively. At the higher standard, 48% achieved above expectations in reading, 43% in maths and 23% in writing. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in March 2025, judged that the school had improved significantly since its previous graded inspection in 2019, and it retains a Good rating across all categories including behaviour, personal development and early years provision.
Heber offers a solid range of facilities including a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, a forest school area and a sensory room, as well as music rooms and an ICT suite. Clubs include gardening, book club and science club, while sports on offer are tennis, cricket, gymnastics, netball and football. The school has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, hearing impairment and social, emotional and mental health support. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: in the most recent Parent View survey, 100% of respondents said they would recommend the school, and 89% strongly agreed that their child is happy there. With its strong academic record, high demand for places and a Good Ofsted rating, Heber is a strong contender for families in Southwark, particularly those who can secure a place through the oversubscribed admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Heber Road, London, Southwark, SE22 9LA |
| Headteacher | Vanessa Kyprios |
| Local Authority | Southwark |
| Number of Pupils | 434 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 14.2% |
| School Capacity | 434 / 420 (103% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Mar 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (12 Mar 2025): Improved significantly
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 24 Nov 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (78%)
2020th of 13,686
Nationally
449th of 1,592
In London
14th of 60
In Southwark
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
78%
Expected Standard
15%
Higher Standard
'22/23
68%
'23/24
78%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
220 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
8Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed60
278
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
84 families put this school as their 1st choice (30% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:30
Source: heberprimaryschool.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British47.9%
- Mixed16.8%
- White (other)13.4%
- Asian6.1%
- Black2.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
24
Total schools
20
Oversubscribed
17
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heber Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Heber Road, London
Southwark, SE22 9LA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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