Henry Cavendish Primary School, London
Henry Cavendish Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in London. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 351st-highest of the 959 schools in London with published results, and 2,822nd of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.6 first-choice applications for every place. It was 92% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
- Demand
- 1.6 first choices per place
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Lambeth (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Henry Cavendish Primary School in detail
Henry Cavendish Primary School in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include running, robotics and photography.
The school runs a breakfast club, from £6.00 per day.
Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 85% of Year 6 pupils at Henry Cavendish Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 82% and 80% in Lambeth and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 88% in reading and 92% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Henry Cavendish Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 94 families put Henry Cavendish Primary School as their first choice and 330 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is 1.6 first choices for every place. 36 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Henry Cavendish Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Henry Cavendish Primary School are Telferscot Primary School (0.3 miles, Outstanding, 85% reading, 81% maths); St Bede's Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles, Good); Alderbrook Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 85% reading, 81% maths); and Ravenstone Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 87% reading, 85% maths).
Henry Cavendish Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Telferscot Primary SchoolSt Bede's Catholic Primary SchoolAlderbrook Primary SchoolRavenstone Primary School
Who goes there
12.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 41.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (34%), Mixed (15%) and Black (13%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Balham Rail Station, about 630 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Belthorn Crescent (->w), 260 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 692 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 Lambeth (1302).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Henry Cavendish Primary School issued 20 suspensions, 2.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Henry Cavendish Primary School are La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls' School (0.2 miles), Chestnut Grove Academy (0.5 miles), Harris Academy Clapham (0.7 miles) and The Elms Academy (0.9 miles).
La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls' SchoolChestnut Grove AcademyHarris Academy ClaphamThe Elms Academy
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 · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Henry Cavendish Primary School excels at providing an outstanding curriculum where all pupils achieve exceptionally well, with Year 6 outcomes well above the national average. The school creates a nurturing, inclusive environment where pupils feel safe and develop strong relationships based on respect and kindness. Pupils have a genuine voice in school life and enjoy numerous enrichment opportunities that help them develop into well-rounded, confident young people prepared for secondary school.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional curriculum design that builds pupils' skills and knowledge systematically, with pupils achieving well above national average outcomes
- Strong focus on reading with excellent phonics provision, well-stocked libraries, and regular story times that develop confident, motivated readers
- Highly effective provision for pupils with SEND through timely identification and appropriate adaptations by well-trained staff
- Outstanding personal development opportunities including clubs and roles of responsibility that help pupils make a real difference
- Excellent pupil behaviour and attitudes to learning with well-established routines that maximize learning time
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with a strong open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Mandarin club, fencing, coding, chess, sports clubs, urban art club, eco-team, school radio station, bubble time for mental health support
Henry Cavendish Primary School is an outstanding school where pupils thrive academically and socially in an inclusive environment built on strong relationships and respect. Parents are extremely positive about the school's work, describing it as nurturing and dedicated.
At a Glance
12.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 85% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 92% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 79% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.2
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
27.6
KS2
31
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 Henry Cavendish Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Henry Cavendish Primary School.
- Fclb - Balham Centre160m away · Not yet graded
- Activ Camps At La Retraite360m away · Not yet graded
- AP Kids Zone530m away · Not yet graded
- Youngstars Clubs & Camps @ Alderbrook Primary School, Balham600m away · Not yet graded
- Schools Out Club Ravenstone760m away · Not yet graded
- Balham Ballers - Ravenstone760m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Henry Cavendish Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Henry Cavendish Primary School is in Lambeth; for families living there:
- Lambeth's school travel policy: Home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 88
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 9
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 88 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 79 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
18 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 Lambeth is 142.5 (the median across 102 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 Henry Cavendish Primary School
Will you get a place at Henry Cavendish Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Henry Cavendish Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Henry Cavendish Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Henry Cavendish Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Lambeth, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Henry Cavendish Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Lambeth 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
92%
Near capacity
775 pupils
840 places
65 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 Lambeth council
Places available
2,650
Applications
2,122
Got 1st preference
80.6%
Got preferred school
96.5%
All primary applications across Lambeth council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: 1.6 first choices per place
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
100
SEN Support
33
EHC Plans
15.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
873
Total Pupils
456
Boys
417
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
43
Teachers
20.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,758
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,518
Per pupil
£5475k
Total funding
£182k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.1%
Overall absence
11.8%
Persistent absence
676
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
Henry Cavendish Primary School
Questions parents ask about Henry Cavendish Primary School
What are SATs results like at Henry Cavendish Primary School?
Of the pupils at Henry Cavendish Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 85% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Henry Cavendish Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Henry Cavendish Primary School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024.
What is the catchment area for Henry Cavendish Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Henry Cavendish Primary School is oversubscribed, Lambeth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Henry Cavendish Primary School?
Henry Cavendish Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 92% of its 840 places.
How big are the classes at Henry Cavendish Primary School?
Classes at Henry Cavendish Primary School average 28.2 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 Henry Cavendish Primary School?
Henry Cavendish Primary School has around 873 pupils on roll. 13% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Henry Cavendish Primary School?
5.1% of sessions were missed at Henry Cavendish Primary School in 2024/25. 11.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Henry Cavendish Primary School?
Apply through Lambeth's coordinated admissions process, naming Henry Cavendish 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 Henry Cavendish Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 6 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Henry Cavendish Primary School: Fclb - Balham Centre (160m away, registered, not yet graded), Activ Camps At La Retraite (360m away, registered, not yet graded) and AP Kids Zone (530m 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 Henry Cavendish Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 88 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 79 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 18 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 Lambeth is 142.5 (the median across 102 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Henry Cavendish Primary School?
Henry Cavendish Primary School is at Hydethorpe Road, London, SW12 0JA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)