William Bellamy Primary School

About William Bellamy Primary School

William Bellamy Primary School sits right on the Barking and Dagenham average for the key measure of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2, with 65% hitting that benchmark. That places it exactly in line with the local authority average for primary schools, which is also 65%. However, the school’s performance is notably stronger when you look at the higher standard: only 10% of its pupils achieved the higher threshold across all three subjects, which is a figure worth considering if you’re aiming for top-tier outcomes. In the local rankings, William Bellamy sits 19th out of 39 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the middle of the pack. It’s worth noting that the school is a large one, with 879 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,100, and it has a higher-than-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 27.7%.

Digging into the individual subject scores, the school’s maths results stand out. The average maths score was 105, with 75% of pupils reaching the expected standard and 33% hitting the higher standard. Reading was slightly behind, with an average score of 104, 74% at expected and 27% at higher. Writing saw 71% at expected and just 18% at the higher level. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in March 2024, confirmed it remains Good, a significant improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2014 when it was rated Requires Improvement. The leadership and management were also judged Good in that 2014 inspection. There’s no Progress 8 data available for this primary school, so it’s hard to say how much value the school adds beyond the raw scores, but the overall picture is of a school performing broadly in line with its local authority.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 149 applications for just 54 places, with all 54 first-preference applicants offered a spot. That’s a ratio of nearly three applicants per place, so getting in is competitive. Facilities are strong for a primary, including a sensory room, music rooms, art studios, a library, and playing fields. The SEND provision is comprehensive, with a dedicated SEN unit and resourced provision covering areas from dyslexia and autism to speech and language needs. Sports on offer include swimming, athletics, netball and gymnastics, while clubs range from gardening and eco club to drama and book club. With nursery provision on site, this is a school that suits families looking for a large, well-resourced primary with solid but not exceptional academic outcomes, particularly those who need strong SEND support.

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