Lady Bankes Primary School

About Lady Bankes Primary School

Lady Bankes Primary School in Hillingdon is a popular state primary that is currently oversubscribed by a considerable margin. For the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 330 applications for just 88 places, with 102 of those applications coming from families listing it as their first preference. This demand is not surprising given the school’s size: with 642 pupils on roll against a capacity of 630, it is effectively full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 18.8%, which is above the national average for primary schools, indicating a genuinely mixed intake. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, serving children from age three through to eleven, and it includes a nursery provision. Kate Needs is the headteacher, and the school sits within the London Borough of Hillingdon.

Academically, Lady Bankes is a standout performer in the borough. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, it was rated Outstanding across every category, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This is an upgrade from its previous Good rating in 2017. At Key Stage 2, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the Hillingdon local authority average of 64%. The school also excels at the higher standard: 13% of pupils achieved that benchmark, while 43% reached the higher standard in maths specifically. Average scaled scores in reading and maths both sit at 107. Nationally, the school ranks in the top 12% of all primaries for its combined expected standard, and it sits fourth out of 55 primary schools in Hillingdon, placing it in the top 25% of schools across the country.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, playing fields, a gymnasium, art studios and a chapel. Sports provision covers rounders, swimming, gymnastics, netball and cross country, while extracurricular clubs include choir, drama, book club and eco club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school’s SEND register is notably comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder and social, emotional and mental health needs. Given the high demand — with an oversubscription ratio of 3.75 and only 76 first-preference offers made — this is a school that suits families who are prepared to apply early and live within a close catchment area. It is one of only nine Outstanding primaries in Hillingdon, and the nearest similarly rated school is Newnham Junior School, 1.1 kilometres away.

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