Scargill Infant School

About Scargill Infant School

Scargill Infant School is clearly a popular choice among local families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 170 applications for just 60 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.83. That means nearly three families applied for every spot available. Of those 170 applications, 63 were first-preference choices, and 53 of those families were offered a place. While the school doesn't publish a parent recommendation percentage, the sheer demand suggests a strong reputation in the Havering area. The school is a state-funded, mixed-gender primary for children aged 2 to 7, with a nursery on site. It has a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, with all inspected areas — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership, and early years provision — all rated Good. That's a solid, consistent picture for parents looking for a reliable start to their child's education.

Academically, Scargill Infant School is a primary that covers the Early Years and Key Stage 1, so it doesn't publish the Key Stage 2 SATs results that the local authority average is based on. However, its Ofsted report from November 2021 gives a clear sense of quality. The school was previously rated Outstanding in 2007, but its most recent graded inspection saw it settle at Good across the board. The early years provision, which is a key focus for an infant school, was rated Good. For context, in Havering, 10 out of 60 primary schools hold an Outstanding rating, with the nearest one being Scotts Primary School, 1.6 km away. Scargill's own Good rating, combined with its oversubscription, suggests it is delivering a standard that local parents trust, even if it doesn't have the top-tier Ofsted label. The school has 231 pupils against a capacity of 228, so it is effectively full, and 21% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average.

The school offers a practical, well-equipped environment for young children. Facilities include a library, sports hall, ICT suite, playing fields, and a forest school, which is a strong draw for outdoor learning. There is also a chapel on site. Sports provision is broad for an infant school, with tennis, football, netball, cricket, cross country, athletics, and swimming all available. After-school clubs include art, drama, eco club, choir, and coding. For children with additional needs, the school lists support for moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that suits families who want a well-resourced, community-focused infant school with a nursery, strong outdoor provision, and a clear record of being in high demand. The oversubscription means applying as a first preference is essential.

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