Charles Dickens Primary School, London

In its own words: "The school and nursery had a Section 8 Inspection on the 24th and 25th June 2025. Ofsted confirmed that the school continues to be Outstanding in all areas."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Our curriculum is broadly traditional but reflective of our multicultural community and unique location in London. It is carefully crafted by subject specialists to ensure children move on to the next stage of their education with the language, knowledge and experience to show a broad and deep understanding of each subject."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, cricket, running, dance, ballet, drama, choir, ukulele, guitar and chess.

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care, from £8 per session.

Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 4 November 2026, an open day on Monday 16 November 2026, an open day on Thursday 3 December 2026 and an open day on Monday 14 December 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 93% of Year 6 pupils at Charles Dickens Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 97% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 80% in Southwark and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (95% in reading, 92% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 120 families put Charles Dickens Primary School as their first choice and 222 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 places offered. That is 2 first choices for every place. 61 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Charles Dickens Primary School are The Cathedral School of St Saviour and St Mary Overie (0.2 miles, Outstanding, 93% reading, 97% maths); Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary School, the Borough (0.2 miles, Good, 100% reading, 96% maths); Friars Primary Foundation School (0.3 miles, Good, 86% reading, 77% maths); and St George's Cathedral Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles).

Charles Dickens Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

Charles Dickens Primary School is one of 9 schools run by The Charter Schools Educational Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 82% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

64 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Charles Dickens Primary School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 94% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school supports their child's wider development (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (94%).

41.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 70 pupils (14.2%) received SEN support and 14 (2.8%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

Charles Dickens Primary School had 27 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest Underground station is Borough Underground Station, about 210 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).

19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Great Suffolk Street (->s), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 2718 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other theft, theft from the person and violence and sexual offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Southwark (1438), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Charles Dickens Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Charles Dickens Primary School are Haberdashers' Borough Academy (under 0.1 miles), Ark Globe Academy (0.5 miles), Notre Dame Catholic Girls' School (0.5 miles) and St Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England School (0.6 miles).