Squirrels Heath Primary School

About Squirrels Heath Primary School

Squirrels Heath Primary School in Havering is a mixed state primary for ages 4 to 11, currently teaching 345 pupils against a capacity of 630. That means the school is running at just under 55% full, which is unusually low for a London primary and suggests there is significant room for growth. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 22.6%, well above the national average of around 23% but notably higher than the Havering average, which typically sits closer to 15%. This indicates the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. Despite the spare capacity, the school appears to be in demand: its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 judged it Good, and the ungraded outcome noted it was "Improving", which may help attract more families. The school has no religious character and no nursery or sixth form provision, so it is a straightforward option for primary-age children in the area.

Academically, Squirrels Heath performs solidly but not spectacularly. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 69% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is four percentage points above the Havering local authority average of 65%. That places the school 21st out of 49 primaries in the borough, in the top 50% of schools locally. The reading and maths average scores of 107 and 106 respectively are both above the national benchmark of 100, and the proportion reaching the higher standard in reading (34%) and maths (31%) is respectable. Writing is weaker, with only 22% achieving the higher standard. The school has clearly improved since its previous Ofsted inspection in 2016, when it was rated Requires Improvement; the 2018 graded inspection upgraded it to Good, and the 2024 ungraded inspection confirmed it remains Good and is improving further.

The school offers a decent range of facilities including a dining hall, outdoor playground, music rooms, ICT suite, art studios and even a chapel, which is unusual for a non-religious state primary. Sports include cross country, athletics, netball, gymnastics and dance, while clubs cover art, coding, chess and film club. SEND provision is well-documented, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families considering Squirrels Heath, the key practical points are its spare capacity, meaning there is likely to be availability for in-year admissions, and its improving trajectory under headteacher Mary Shipton. It is a good fit for families who want a solid, improving local primary with strong SEND support, rather than a high-pressure academic environment. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Towers Infant School, about a kilometre away, which may be an alternative for families with younger children.

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