Grafton Primary School, Dagenham
Grafton Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Dagenham. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 26th-highest of the 29 schools in Dagenham with published results, and 10,597th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2019)
- 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 Barking and Dagenham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Grafton Primary School in detail
Grafton Primary School in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, basketball, multi-sports, karate, dance, ballet, choir and STEM.
Coming up: an open day on Monday 9 November 2026 at 3.30pm, an open day on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at 2pm and an open day on Monday 23 November 2026 at 3.30pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Barking and Dagenham
Clubs (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at Grafton Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 69% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 80% in Barking and Dagenham and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 66% in reading and 62% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Grafton Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 103 families put Grafton Primary School as their first choice and 287 named it as one of their preferences, for 109 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 Grafton Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Grafton Primary School are Five Elms Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 76% reading, 76% maths); Valence Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 66% reading, 74% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 73% reading, 67% maths); and Southwood Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 66% reading, 71% maths).
Grafton Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Five Elms Primary SchoolValence Primary SchoolSt Joseph's Catholic Primary SchoolSouthwood Primary School
What parents say
64 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Grafton Primary School (as of September 2025): 73% would recommend the school, 86% say their child is happy there and 52% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (86%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (52%).
Who goes there
42.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (42%), White British (20%) and Black (11%).
Grafton Primary School has a resourced provision (12 places, 12 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (12 places, 12 pupils on roll).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Chadwell Heath Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Winifred Road (->w), 270 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Grafton Primary School issued 14 suspensions, 1.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Grafton Primary School are All Saints Catholic School and Technology College (0.5 miles), Robert Clack School (0.6 miles), The Sydney Russell School (0.8 miles) and Mayfield School (0.9 miles).
All Saints Catholic School and Technology CollegeRobert Clack SchoolThe Sydney Russell SchoolMayfield 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 April 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Grafton is a welcoming school where all children feel they belong and are valued. The school excels at supporting children with different needs, particularly those with autism or learning difficulties, ensuring they access the same learning as their classmates. Beyond academics, the school provides a rich range of activities - from sports and music to trips like visiting Parliament - that bring learning to life and develop confident, well-rounded children.
Key Strengths
- Inclusive community where pupils feel safe and accepted, with human rights at the centre of the school's ethos
- Effective early reading teaching with strong phonics programme and good support for struggling younger readers
- Excellent support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, including a specialised autism provision
- Strong enrichment programme offering clubs, sports, trips, and cultural experiences for all pupils
- Clear behaviour routines and high attendance rates
Areas for Improvement
- Older pupils at early stages of reading need more consistent support to develop accuracy and fluency
- Writing skills need greater opportunity to be practised and applied across different subjects beyond English lessons
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Choir, friendship club, sporting activities, Houses of Parliament visit, school library visits, local library visits, Graftonbury Festival, African drumming workshops, UNICEF Rights Respecting Create Day, overnight residential
Grafton Primary School has maintained the high standards from its previous outstanding inspection. The school has an inclusive community where pupils feel safe, behave well, and benefit from a broad curriculum with strong enrichment activities.
At a Glance
18.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision and SEN unit
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
64 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 improved from 66% to 70% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 62% to 69% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 58% to 64% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.9
Avg class size
28.8
Infant (KS1)
29.6
KS2
29
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Grafton Primary School
Summer Holiday Activities
6 Jul 2026
Our Story, Our Faces: A Celebration of Local Legends
2 Jul 2026
Mini Tennis Champions!
28 Apr 2026
Holiday Activities and Food Programmes for Easter 2026
2 Mar 2026
Lord Mayor Visit Inspires Our Pupils
26 Jan 2026
Winter HAF prgramme 2025
15 Dec 2025
From Grafton Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Grafton Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Grafton Primary School.
- Super Star Sport Camp @ Saint Josephs750m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Grafton Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Grafton Primary School is in Barking and Dagenham; for families living there:
Apply to Barking and Dagenham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 57
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 9
- Children hurt
- 11
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 57 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 48 slight.
11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 7 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
13 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 Barking and Dagenham is 65 (the median across 68 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 Grafton Primary School
Will you get a place at Grafton Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Grafton Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Grafton Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Grafton Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Barking and Dagenham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Grafton Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Barking and Dagenham 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
833 pupils
840 places
7 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Dagenham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Dagenham
Across Barking and Dagenham council
Places available
3,884
Applications
2,970
Got 1st preference
95.3%
Got preferred school
99.3%
All primary applications across Barking and Dagenham council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
162
SEN Support
35
EHC Plans
22.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Grafton Primary School has a resourced provision (12 places, 12 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (12 places, 12 pupils on roll).
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
892
Total Pupils
434
Boys
458
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
42
Teachers
21.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£61,538
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,065
Per pupil
£5550k
Total funding
£264k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.6%
Overall absence
17.4%
Persistent absence
760
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 Grafton Primary School
What are SATs results like at Grafton Primary School?
Of the pupils at Grafton Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 70% reached the expected standard in reading and 69% did so in maths.
What is Grafton Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Grafton Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2019, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Grafton Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Grafton Primary School is oversubscribed, Barking and Dagenham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Grafton Primary School?
Grafton Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Grafton Primary School?
Classes at Grafton Primary School average 27.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Grafton Primary School?
Grafton Primary School has around 892 pupils on roll. 19% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Grafton Primary School have specialist SEN provision?
Grafton Primary School has a resourced provision (12 places, 12 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (12 places, 12 pupils on roll).
What is attendance like at Grafton Primary School?
5.6% of sessions were missed at Grafton Primary School in 2024/25. 17.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Grafton Primary School?
Apply through Barking and Dagenham's coordinated admissions process, naming Grafton 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 Grafton Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Grafton Primary School: Super Star Sport Camp @ Saint Josephs (750m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Grafton Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 57 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 48 slight. 11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 7 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 13 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 Barking and Dagenham is 65 (the median across 68 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Grafton Primary School?
Grafton Primary School is at Grafton Primary School, Grafton Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 3EX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)