The James Cambell Primary School

About The James Cambell Primary School

The James Cambell Primary School sits within the Barking and Dagenham local authority, a London borough where competition among primary schools is noticeable. In the most recent local rankings, the school placed 17th out of 39 primary schools, placing it in the top half of its peers. The three highest-ranked schools in the area are Rush Green Primary School, St Margarets CofE Primary School, and The St Teresa Catholic Primary School, all of which sit above James Cambell in the local league table. The school is a mixed, state-funded primary for children aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site. It is non-religious and led by headteacher Clara Breakwell. With 627 pupils on roll against a capacity of 840, the school is not at full capacity, yet it was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 160 applications for 72 places and making offers to all 72 first-preference families. A third of its pupils (33.3%) are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and reflects the local demographic.

Academically, the school has made clear progress. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024, it was rated Good overall, with Good marks across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This is a notable improvement from its previous inspection in February 2020, when it was rated Requires Improvement. At Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year, 67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, just above the local authority average of 65%. In individual subjects, 82% met expectations in both maths and writing, while 76% did so in reading. Higher-standard attainment was more modest: 6% achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, with 27% reaching the higher bar in maths, 23% in reading, and 9% in writing. Average scaled scores were 104 in both reading and maths, in line with the national average of 104.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, art studios, a dining hall, a sensory room, and a chapel. Sports provision covers rounders, netball, cross country, gymnastics, football, and cricket, while extracurricular clubs include science, coding, drama, and gardening. For children with additional needs, the school supports a broad spectrum of SEND, including moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, visual impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary school is Thames View Infants, 1.8 km away, which may be a consideration for some families. Given its Good rating, improving exam results, and oversubscribed status, James Cambell is a solid, well-regarded local option for families in Barking and Dagenham, particularly those seeking a non-religious, inclusive primary with a nursery and a strong focus on behaviour and personal development.

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