Lathom Junior School

About Lathom Junior School

Lathom Junior School is a state primary in Newham, London, for children aged 7 to 11, and it is a school that is clearly in demand. With 529 pupils on roll against a capacity of 600, it is running close to full, and the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 37.8 per cent. That is significantly above the national average for primary schools, which typically sits around 23 per cent, and reflects the diverse, inner-city community it serves. The school is non-denominational and mixed, and its headteacher is Sarah Rowlands. The fact that it is oversubscribed in a borough with 68 primary schools suggests strong local confidence, even though Newham has 27 schools rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Lathom itself holds a Good rating, and its most recent ungraded inspection in November 2022 confirmed that it remains Good, a grade it has held consistently since at least its previous graded inspection in 2017.

Academically, Lathom performs solidly against both local and national benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is just one percentage point above the Newham local authority average of 74 per cent, placing the school 31st out of 61 primaries in the borough. Nationally, it sits in the top 25 per cent of schools by this measure, ranking 2,805th out of 13,686. Subject-level results are stronger in maths, where 87 per cent of pupils met the expected standard and 36 per cent achieved a high score, compared with 82 per cent expected in reading and 86 per cent in writing. Average scaled scores were 107 in maths and 106 in reading. The school does not publish Progress 8 scores for primary, so it is not possible to say how much value it adds relative to intake, but the raw attainment figures are respectable for the context.

The school offers a broad range of facilities, including playing fields, a sports hall, art studios, music rooms and a forest school, which suggests a commitment to learning beyond the classroom. Clubs include gardening, drama, choir, art and chess, and the sports on offer cover cricket, netball, athletics, football, dance and rounders. For families with children who have additional needs, Lathom provides for a wide spectrum of SEND, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Kensington Primary School, half a kilometre away, so for parents who prioritise a Good rating with strong local demand and a well-resourced site, Lathom is a pragmatic choice. It suits families who want a large, inclusive junior school with decent academic outcomes and plenty of enrichment, without the pressure of an Outstanding label.

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