Gilbert Colvin Primary School, Ilford
Gilbert Colvin Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Ilford. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 19th-highest of the 33 schools in Ilford with published results, and 4,096th of 14,452 across England. It was 71% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Redbridge (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Gilbert Colvin Primary School in detail
Gilbert Colvin Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Come and see our lovely school! Guided tours with the headteacher every Friday. On behalf of the children, staff, and governors, I would like to warmly welcome you to Gilbert Colvin Primary School. Gilbert Colvin Primary School is a vibrant, two-form entry multicultural school with a Nursery, set within spacious green grounds in the Clayhall area of Barkingside."
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at Gilbert Colvin Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 89% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 84% and 85% in Redbridge and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 77% in reading and 82% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Gilbert Colvin Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 24 families put Gilbert Colvin Primary School as their first choice and 76 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Gilbert Colvin Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Gilbert Colvin Primary School are Clore Tikva School (0.5 miles, Good, 90% reading, 82% maths); Glade Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 86% reading, 84% maths); Mossford Green Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 78% reading, 83% maths); and Fairlop Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 89% reading, 88% maths).
Gilbert Colvin Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Clore Tikva SchoolGlade Primary SchoolMossford Green Primary SchoolFairlop Primary School
What parents say
15 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Gilbert Colvin Primary School (as of September 2025): 80% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 40% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (40%).
Who goes there
33.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 66.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (48%), Mixed (12%) and Black (10%).
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Fairlop, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Calne Avenue, 150 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Gilbert Colvin Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 1.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Gilbert Colvin Primary School are Caterham High School (0.4 miles), Ilford County High School (0.4 miles), King Solomon High School (0.8 miles) and Beal High School (1 mile).
Caterham High SchoolIlford County High SchoolKing Solomon High SchoolBeal 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
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 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 February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Gilbert Colvin Primary excels at creating a calm, supportive learning environment where children feel valued and safe. The school's rigorous approach to reading has led to marked improvements, with pupils developing genuine fluency and confidence. Teachers use consistent, clear expectations to help all pupils focus and behave well, so learning interruptions are rare.
Key Strengths
- Strong emphasis on early reading with well-sequenced phonics teaching that builds pupil confidence and fluency
- Broad and ambitious curriculum that develops critical thinking across subjects like art, history, and PE
- Clear routines and shared expectations that foster respect, self-discipline, and reduce learning interruptions
- Effective support for pupils with SEND, with accurate identification of needs and barriers to learning
- Strong personal development programme including assemblies on rights, democracy, and British values
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment in foundation subjects not used effectively enough to identify and plug gaps in pupils' knowledge
- Some adaptations to teaching for pupils with learning gaps are not fully effective, limiting their progress
- Need to ensure all pupils keep up in their learning through more targeted support
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with a strong culture that puts pupils' interests first and shared understanding of expectations through parent forums and coffee mornings.
Extracurricular Activities
Museum and gallery visits, cultural trips to places of worship and local library, sports activities, extra-curricular clubs
Gilbert Colvin Primary School provides a warm, welcoming environment where pupils feel safe and engaged in a calm, orderly atmosphere. The school maintains good quality education across all areas, with particular strength in early reading and a broad, ambitious curriculum.
At a Glance
33.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
15 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 78% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 82% to 89% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 79% to 86% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.6
Avg class size
24.4
Infant (KS1)
25.1
KS2
14
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Gilbert Colvin Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Gilbert Colvin Primary School.
- JAM Activity Camps Ltd640m away · Not yet graded
- Amanda's After School Club890m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Gilbert Colvin 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
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Gilbert Colvin Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Gilbert Colvin 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
- 13
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 11 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
1 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 Gilbert Colvin Primary School
Will you get a place at Gilbert Colvin Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Gilbert Colvin Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Gilbert Colvin Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Gilbert Colvin 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 Gilbert Colvin 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
71%
Available places
319 pupils
450 places
131 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: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(9)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
52
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
18.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
344
Total Pupils
176
Boys
168
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
19.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,475
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,110
Per pupil
£2172k
Total funding
£132k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
12.7%
Persistent absence
308
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 Gilbert Colvin Primary School
What are SATs results like at Gilbert Colvin Primary School?
Of the pupils at Gilbert Colvin Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 78% reached the expected standard in reading and 89% did so in maths.
What is Gilbert Colvin Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Gilbert Colvin Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Gilbert Colvin Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Gilbert Colvin 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 Gilbert Colvin Primary School?
Gilbert Colvin Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 71% of its 450 places.
How big are the classes at Gilbert Colvin Primary School?
Classes at Gilbert Colvin Primary School average 24.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Gilbert Colvin Primary School?
Gilbert Colvin Primary School has around 344 pupils on roll. 33% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Gilbert Colvin Primary School?
5.4% of sessions were missed at Gilbert Colvin Primary School in 2024/25. 12.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Gilbert Colvin Primary School?
Apply through Redbridge's coordinated admissions process, naming Gilbert Colvin 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 Gilbert Colvin Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Gilbert Colvin Primary School: JAM Activity Camps Ltd (640m away, registered, not yet graded) and Amanda's After School Club (890m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are Gilbert Colvin Primary School's term dates?
Gilbert Colvin 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 Gilbert Colvin Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 11 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 1 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 Gilbert Colvin Primary School?
Gilbert Colvin Primary School is at Strafford Avenue, Ilford, Essex, IG5 0TL.
Sources: Redbridge term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)