Gascoigne Primary School, Barking

Ofsted's report card from its 30 June 2026 inspection grades Gascoigne Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard, 5 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of early years education."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically achieve well across the school."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum with a clear focus on developing the core areas of speaking, reading, writing and mathematics."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have clear systems to identify pupils' needs, when they join the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the strengths of the school and are taking purposeful and swift steps to address areas for improvement, including actions to increase positive attendance."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a comprehensive personal development programme."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Despite leaders' high expectations, attendance rates have been below national averages over time."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to develop their analysis of reasons for pupils' absence and implement well-targeted systems and processes to secure consistent improvements in attendance"; "Leaders should ensure that teaching consistently identifies and adjusts to pupils' existing knowledge, with adaptations made swiftly to meet pupils' needs where necessary".

In its own words: "Our large, friendly team is available to respond to any query; please speak with a member of our office team, should you need to arrange a meeting with any member of staff."

In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Gascoigne Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 73% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 80% in Barking and Dagenham and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (75% in reading, 72% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 123 families put Gascoigne Primary School as their first choice and 289 named it as one of their preferences, for 127 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Gascoigne Primary School are Greatfields Primary School (0.1 miles); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); St Margarets CofE Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 91% reading, 98% maths); and Ripple Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 79% reading, 83% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Gascoigne Primary School.

13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Gascoigne Primary School (as of April 2026): 77% would recommend the school, 85% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (85%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

89.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (45%), Black (23%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 153 pupils (13.7%) received SEN support and 24 (2.2%) 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.

The nearest Underground station is Barking Underground Station, about 750 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Gascoigne Primary School (->s), 150 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Gascoigne Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 718 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Barking and Dagenham (470), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Gascoigne Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 0.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Gascoigne Primary School are Greatfields School (0.2 miles); Langdon Academy (0.5 miles); Eastbury Community School (0.8 miles); and Barking Abbey School, A Specialist Sports and Humanities College (1.1 miles).