Gearies Primary School, Ilford
Gearies Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Ilford. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 17th-highest of the 33 schools in Ilford with published results, and 3,885th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Redbridge (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Gearies Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils at Gearies Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 87% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 84% and 85% in Redbridge and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (81% in reading, 91% in maths).
Getting a place at Gearies Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 124 families put Gearies Primary School as their first choice and 294 named it as one of their preferences, for 120 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 11 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Gearies Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Gearies Primary School are St Augustine's Catholic Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 76% reading, 73% maths); Fullwood Primary School (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 88% reading, 97% maths); Parkhill Junior School (0.7 miles, Good, 88% reading, 88% maths); and Parkhill Infants' School (0.7 miles, Good).
Gearies Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
St Augustine's Catholic Primary SchoolFullwood Primary SchoolParkhill Junior SchoolParkhill Infants' School
What parents say
102 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Gearies Primary School (as of September 2025): 93% would recommend the school, 97% say their child is happy there and 80% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (97%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (78%).
Who goes there
11.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 87% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (77%) and Mixed (5%).
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Gants Hill Station, about 420 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Martley Drive, 190 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Gearies Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Gearies Primary School are Valentines High School (0.4 miles), Ilford County High School (0.9 miles), Beal High School (0.9 miles) and Oaks Park High School (0.9 miles).
Valentines High SchoolIlford County High SchoolBeal High SchoolOaks Park High School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from September 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Gearies Primary School excels at making every child feel valued and supported to become their best self. Teachers are experts at matching learning to each child's needs, and pupils achieve well above average results in reading, writing and maths. The school offers a wonderful range of activities and visits, with excellent behaviour and a genuinely inclusive community.
Key Strengths
- Pupils achieve far above national standards in reading, writing and mathematics
- Expert staff deliver the curriculum exceptionally well with careful support for all learners including those with SEND
- Strong focus on communication, language development and phonics from Nursery onwards
- Excellent behaviour and a rare occurrence of bullying with clear support systems
- Wide range of enrichment opportunities including school visits and residential stays
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
School visits, residential stays, sports competitions including inclusive sports for pupils with SEND, sports leaders programme, playground support roles, parent reading support groups
Gearies Primary School is a happy and friendly school where pupils flourish and achieve highly. The school is highly inclusive with excellent behaviour and a strong focus on developing the best in every child.
At a Glance
11.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
102 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 81% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 91% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.3
Avg class size
28.6
Infant (KS1)
29.7
KS2
29
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Gearies Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Gearies Primary School.
- Epsilon Education Gantshill400m away · Not yet graded
- Top Marks460m away · Not yet graded
- Nelson Educare510m away · Not yet graded
- LSL - Ilford670m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Gearies Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Redbridge. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Thursday 22 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Thursday 2 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 7 April 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Monday 24 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Gearies Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Gearies Primary School is in Redbridge; for families living there:
Apply to Redbridge for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 112
- Fatal
- 2
- Serious
- 15
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 112 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 15 serious and 95 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
20 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Redbridge is 56 (the median across 94 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Gearies Primary School
Will you get a place at Gearies Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Gearies Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Gearies Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Gearies Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Redbridge, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Gearies Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Redbridge got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
832 pupils
840 places
8 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Ilford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Ilford
Across Redbridge council
Places available
4,215
Applications
3,417
Got 1st preference
88.2%
Got preferred school
97.8%
All primary applications across Redbridge council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
136
SEN Support
48
EHC Plans
20.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
884
Total Pupils
433
Boys
451
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
42
Teachers
21.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,687
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,139
Per pupil
£4648k
Total funding
£118k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.9%
Overall absence
18.1%
Persistent absence
761
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Questions parents ask about Gearies Primary School
What are SATs results like at Gearies Primary School?
Of the pupils at Gearies Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 81% reached the expected standard in reading and 87% did so in maths.
What is Gearies Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Gearies Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Gearies Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Gearies Primary School is oversubscribed, Redbridge allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Gearies Primary School?
Gearies Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Gearies Primary School?
Classes at Gearies Primary School average 29.3 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Gearies Primary School?
Gearies Primary School has around 884 pupils on roll. 12% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Gearies Primary School?
5.9% of sessions were missed at Gearies Primary School in 2024/25. 18.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Gearies Primary School?
Apply through Redbridge's coordinated admissions process, naming Gearies Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Gearies Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 4 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Gearies Primary School: Epsilon Education Gantshill (400m away, registered, not yet graded), Top Marks (460m away, registered, not yet graded) and Nelson Educare (510m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are Gearies Primary School's term dates?
Gearies Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Redbridge. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Thursday 22 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Thursday 2 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 7 April 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Monday 24 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Gearies Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 112 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 15 serious and 95 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 20 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Redbridge is 56 (the median across 94 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Gearies Primary School?
Gearies Primary School is at Waremead Road, Gants Hill, Ilford, Essex, IG2 6TF.
Sources: Redbridge term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)