Rotherhithe Primary School

About Rotherhithe Primary School

Rotherhithe Primary School sits within the Southwark local authority, one of 67 primary schools in the borough. While it does not rank among the top three highest-scoring peers in the area — those being Boutcher Church of England Primary School, The Cathedral School of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, and Riverside Primary School — it holds a solid Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained since its most recent graded inspection in 2014. The school has shown clear improvement over time: its previous inspection in 2012 rated it Requires Improvement overall, with leadership and management at 2 (Good) but early years provision and overall effectiveness both at 3. By 2014, leadership and management had been judged Good, and the overall effectiveness had risen to Good. An ungraded inspection in 2018 confirmed the school remains Good. For families in the Rotherhithe area, this is a school that has demonstrably turned around its performance and held steady since.

Academically, the school serves a diverse intake, with 50.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. The most recent Key Stage 2 data is not provided in the available information, so it is not possible to compare directly with the Southwark local authority average of 68% achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. However, the school's Ofsted report from 2014 noted that pupils make good progress, particularly in reading and mathematics, and that teaching is effective. The school has a nursery provision, taking children from age 3, and offers a broad curriculum supported by specialist facilities including an ICT suite, art studios, music rooms, and a forest school. With 341 pupils on roll against a capacity of 460, there is some room for growth, and the school runs a range of clubs including art, choir, science and coding.

For families considering Rotherhithe Primary, the admissions picture is competitive. For the 2025/26 intake, the school offered 42 places and received 112 applications, an oversubscription ratio of 2.67, with all 39 first-preference applicants receiving offers. The school has a strong SEND offer, with provisions covering specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. Facilities include a sensory room, which will appeal to families with children who need additional support. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Galleywall Primary, City of London Academy, 0.7 km away, but Rotherhithe Primary's Good rating, improved trajectory, and comprehensive SEND support make it a strong local option for families who value stability and inclusivity.

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