Handsworth Primary School, London
Handsworth Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in London. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 670th-highest of the 959 schools in London with published results, and 6,834th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Waltham Forest (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Handsworth Primary School in detail
Handsworth Primary School in its own words
Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 10 November 2026, an open evening on Friday 13 November 2026 and an open evening on Wednesday 18 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Waltham Forest
Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils at Handsworth Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 84% and 84% in Waltham Forest and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 86% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Handsworth Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 59 families put Handsworth Primary School as their first choice and 199 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. 3 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Handsworth Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Handsworth Primary School are Oakhill Primary School (0.3 miles, Outstanding, 85% reading, 93% maths); Selwyn Primary School (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 91% reading, 91% maths); Ainslie Wood Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 87% reading, 92% maths); and Thorpe Hall Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 86% reading, 89% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Handsworth Primary School.
Oakhill Primary SchoolSelwyn Primary SchoolAinslie Wood Primary SchoolThorpe Hall Primary School
Who goes there
10.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 71 pupils (17%) received SEN support and 35 (8.4%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Highams Park Station, about 190 metres away (roughly a 2-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Beverley Road (E4), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 257 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Waltham Forest (663).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Handsworth Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 0.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Handsworth Primary School are Highams Park School (under 0.1 miles), South Chingford Foundation School (0.7 miles), Woodford County High School (0.7 miles) and Frederick Bremer School (0.9 miles).
Highams Park SchoolSouth Chingford Foundation SchoolWoodford County High SchoolFrederick Bremer School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; 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 · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Handsworth Primary is particularly strong in teaching children to read, with most pupils becoming fluent readers by the end of Year 1. The school creates an inclusive, welcoming environment where all children feel confident to be themselves, and staff are skilled at supporting pupils with additional needs. Children develop into thoughtful, engaged learners with strong social values and real leadership opportunities.
Key Strengths
- Strong emphasis on reading with effective phonics teaching and tailored support to help pupils catch up
- Inclusive culture where all pupils feel welcomed and valued, with clear behaviour expectations based on the four Cs (consideration, cooperation, courtesy and care)
- Well-trained staff who use assessment effectively to understand what pupils know and respond promptly to support their progress
- Strong leadership with high expectations for pupils with SEND and thorough identification of additional support needs
- Pupils given meaningful leadership opportunities such as school council and well-being ambassador roles
Areas for Improvement
- In a few subjects, pupils have not secured some key knowledge over time - leaders need to ensure recent curriculum improvements are fully embedded through staff training and support
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with leaders maintaining a robust culture of safeguarding, staying aware of local concerns, keeping detailed records, and making necessary referrals to external agencies promptly.
Extracurricular Activities
School council, well-being ambassadors, digital leaders, visits which enhance and enrich the curriculum
Handsworth Primary School is a good school where pupils enjoy learning and feel safe, valued and confident. The school has high expectations for all pupils, including those with additional needs, and provides a broad, well-sequenced curriculum.
At a Glance
10.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 86% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 77% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 78% to 74% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.9
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
29.8
KS2
14
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Handsworth Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Handsworth Primary School.
- Handsworth SSS Sports CampAt the school · Not yet graded
- art-K Highams ParkAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Handsworth Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Handsworth Primary School is in Waltham Forest; for families living there:
Apply to Waltham Forest for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 35
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 14
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 35 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 4 serious and 30 slight.
14 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 9 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 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 Waltham Forest is 66 (the median across 87 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 Handsworth Primary School
Will you get a place at Handsworth Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Handsworth Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Handsworth Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Handsworth Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Waltham Forest, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Handsworth Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Waltham Forest 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
417 pupils
420 places
3 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Waltham Forest council
Places available
3,614
Applications
3,040
Got 1st preference
90.6%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All primary applications across Waltham Forest council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
71
SEN Support
35
EHC Plans
25.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
418
Total Pupils
201
Boys
217
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
20.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,767
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,364
Per pupil
£2450k
Total funding
£74k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.6%
Overall absence
12.5%
Persistent absence
368
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 Handsworth Primary School
What are SATs results like at Handsworth Primary School?
Of the pupils at Handsworth Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 79% reached the expected standard in reading and 77% did so in maths.
What is Handsworth Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Handsworth Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2023.
What is the catchment area for Handsworth Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Handsworth Primary School is oversubscribed, Waltham Forest allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Handsworth Primary School?
Handsworth Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Handsworth Primary School?
Classes at Handsworth Primary School average 29.9 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 Handsworth Primary School?
Handsworth Primary School has around 418 pupils on roll. 10% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Handsworth Primary School?
4.6% of sessions were missed at Handsworth Primary School in 2024/25. 12.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Handsworth Primary School?
Apply through Waltham Forest's coordinated admissions process, naming Handsworth 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 Handsworth Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs at the school: Handsworth SSS Sports Camp (registered, not yet graded) and art-K Highams Park (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 Handsworth Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 35 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 4 serious and 30 slight. 14 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 9 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 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 Waltham Forest is 66 (the median across 87 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Handsworth Primary School?
Handsworth Primary School is at Handsworth Avenue, Highams Park, London, E4 9PJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)