Kingsmead Primary School

About Kingsmead Primary School

Kingsmead Primary School sits within the Hackney local authority, a borough with 51 primary schools where 21 hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted. Among these, Kingsmead ranks 19th overall, placing it comfortably in the top 25 of Hackney primaries. Its closest Outstanding neighbour is Mandeville Primary School, just half a kilometre away, while the top-performing peers in the borough include Simon Marks Jewish Primary School, Southwold Primary School, and Grazebrook Primary School. The school is led by headteacher Louise Nichols and serves 226 pupils aged 2 to 11, operating above its official capacity of 210. Over half of its students — 53.2% — are eligible for free school meals, a figure well above the national average, reflecting the school’s role in a diverse and economically varied community. Kingsmead also offers nursery provision, making it a full primary option for families from the earliest years.

Academically, Kingsmead’s most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023 awarded it Outstanding across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This continues a strong track record — its previous inspection in 2011 also rated it Outstanding overall. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 79% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, above the Hackney local authority average of 74%. Reading scores were particularly strong, with 86% reaching the expected level and 46% achieving a higher standard. Maths followed closely, with 79% at expected and 21% at higher. The average reading score was 108 and maths 105. Nationally, Kingsmead ranks in the top 14% of all primary schools by its KS2 combined measure, and within London it sits in the top 27%.

The school provides a broad range of facilities including a library, music rooms, playing fields, a gymnasium, and a chapel. Sports on offer include cross country, netball, rounders, football, and athletics, while clubs such as chess, eco club, choir, and coding extend the day. Kingsmead’s SEND provisions are extensive, covering moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed: 85 applications for 29 places, with 28 offers made to first-preference families from 29 first-preference applications — an oversubscription ratio of 2.93. This is a school that suits families looking for a well-regarded, inclusive local primary with strong academic outcomes and a clear commitment to supporting a wide range of needs.

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