Rye Oak Primary School
62%
Capacity
262
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About Rye Oak Primary School
Rye Oak Primary School in Southwark is a mixed state primary for ages 2 to 11, currently home to 262 pupils against a capacity of 420. That spare capacity is notable given the school’s high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals: 57.3%, well above the national average and a strong signal of the community it serves. Despite this, demand is robust. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 72 applications for 24 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3:1. All 23 first-preference applicants received offers, meaning that if you put Rye Oak first, your child is very likely to get in. The school also offers nursery provision, so families can start here from age two and stay through to Year 6.
Academically, Rye Oak performs solidly for a school with such a high FSM intake. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 63% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, just below the Southwark local authority average of 68%. The school’s ranking within the borough is 36th out of 60 primaries, placing it in the top 50 nationally by this metric. Individual subject scores are consistent: reading and maths both averaged 103, with 78% reaching the expected standard in reading and 73% in maths and writing. Higher-standard attainment is lower, with only 2% achieving the higher benchmark across all three subjects. Ofsted rated the school Good overall in its May 2023 inspection, with Good marks across every category including behaviour, personal development and early years provision — a repeat of its Good rating from 2016.
The school’s facilities are generous for a primary: a library, sports hall, gymnasium, art studios, ICT suite, sensory room and even a chapel. Sports include football, gymnastics, dance and cricket, while clubs cover choir, drama and chess. SEND provision is comprehensive, with support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder and physical disabilities, plus a resourced provision. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is St John’s and St Clement’s Church of England Primary School, 0.6 km away, but Rye Oak’s strong demand and Good Ofsted record suggest it is a well-regarded local option, particularly for families who value a genuinely inclusive intake and a full range of on-site facilities.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 2 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Whorlton Road, London, Southwark, SE15 3PD |
| Headteacher | Ruth Sharp |
| Local Authority | Southwark |
| Number of Pupils | 262 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 57.3% |
| School Capacity | 262 / 420 (62% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 May 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 29 Jun 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (63%)
6803rd of 13,686
Nationally
1134th of 1,592
In London
36th of 60
In Southwark
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
63%
Expected Standard
2%
Higher Standard
'22/23
63%
'23/24
63%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
7Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed24
72
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
23 families put this school as their 1st choice (32% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Mixed17.5%
- White British10.7%
- Asian9.3%
- Black3.8%
- White (other)1.5%
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 half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half 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.
27
Total schools
24
Oversubscribed
19
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 Rye Oak 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
Whorlton Road, London
Southwark, SE15 3PD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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