Dorothy Barley Infants' School, Dagenham
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Dorothy Barley Infants' School excels at helping children develop strong reading skills and early maths concepts through skilled teaching and careful book matching. The school is exceptionally welcoming, with staff who know families well and create a nurturing environment where all children, including those with additional needs, thrive and make good progress. Children benefit from a thoughtfully planned curriculum that teaches them about different cultures, healthy living, and how to be responsible citizens.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on early reading and phonics with well-trained staff and books matched to pupils' knowledge
- Highly effective support for vulnerable pupils and those with SEND, with swift identification of needs and adapted teaching
- Engaging and ambitious curriculum that builds on previous learning with clear progression
- Warm relationships between staff and pupils built on mutual respect, with pupils polite and considerate
- Exceptional personal development offer woven throughout the curriculum, helping pupils learn about different cultures and important life skills
Areas for Improvement
- In some subjects, teaching does not sufficiently revisit previous learning, causing gaps in pupils' long-term recall and understanding
- Need to ensure pupils have more opportunities to revisit and master ideas from previous years
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
choir, dance, games club, house captain roles, team protect membership
Dorothy Barley Infants' School has maintained its good standards and continues to provide a supportive, stimulating learning environment at the heart of the local community. The school has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.
At a Glance
18.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
27 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
21.8
Avg class size
24.8
Infant (KS1)
11
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
62%
Available places
223 pupils
360 capacity
137 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Dagenham
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Dagenham
Admissions Demand - Barking and Dagenham
Places available
4,064
Applications
3,038
Got 1st preference
96.2%
Got preferred school
99.7%
Primary admissions across Barking and Dagenham (2025/26)
Inspection History(9)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.71789%
Overall absence
10%
Persistent absence
150
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Dorothy Barley Infants' School
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