John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes, London
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in London. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 755th-highest of the 959 schools in London with published results, and 8,234th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Southwark (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes in detail
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes in its own words
In its own words: "We Not found what you were looking for? We’d love to hear from you, send us a message or give us a call! We're not around right now. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap."
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 4 November 2026 and an open day on Wednesday 9 December 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Southwark
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils at John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes reached the expected standard in reading and 78% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 80% in Southwark and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 77% in reading and 82% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes
For September 2026 entry, 69 families put John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes as their first choice and 156 named it as one of their preferences, for 58 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 14 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes are St Paul's Church of England Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 74% reading, 70% maths); St Peter's Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 89% reading, 84% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Junior School (0.3 miles, Good, 71% reading, 83% maths); and St Joseph's Catholic Infants School (0.3 miles, Good).
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
St Paul's Church of England Primary SchoolSt Peter's Church of England Primary SchoolSt Joseph's Catholic Junior SchoolSt Joseph's Catholic Infants School
Who goes there
57.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 31.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (43%), Mixed (14%) and other ethnic groups (11%).
In 2026, 50 pupils (11.1%) received SEN support and 49 (10.8%) 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 autism.
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes has a SEN unit for speech, language and communication needs: 24 places, 24 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Kennington Station, about 800 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Camberwell Road / Albany Road, 240 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes issued 13 suspensions, 2.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes are Ark All Saints Academy (0.4 miles), South Bank University Academy (0.5 miles), Saint Gabriel's College (0.5 miles) and Sacred Heart Catholic School (0.5 miles).
Ark All Saints AcademySouth Bank University AcademySaint Gabriel's CollegeSacred Heart Catholic 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); 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 October 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at helping every child succeed, regardless of their starting point. The teaching is consistently excellent with well-trained staff who explain concepts clearly and quickly address any misunderstandings. Pupils develop a genuine love of reading and learning, and the school places equal emphasis on behaviour, kindness, and personal development alongside academic achievement.
Key Strengths
- Well-sequenced, ambitious curriculum that exceeds national expectations, with strong foundational learning from Nursery onwards
- Excellent reading provision with highly trained staff delivering phonics effectively - pupils become fluent, confident readers who love reading
- Outstanding behaviour and attitudes to learning throughout the school, with pupils showing exceptional kindness and responsibility
- Effective support for pupils with SEND through specialist staff and appropriate curriculum adaptations
- Strong personal development with pupils understanding values, safe relationships, and healthy lifestyles
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Ballet, art, drama, boxing, cooking using school garden vegetables, school council
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes is an outstanding school where pupils love learning and thrive in a welcoming and supportive environment. The school provides a broad, ambitious curriculum with excellent teaching and strong support for all learners, including those with special educational needs.
At a Glance
57.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Speech and language
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 77% to 72% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 82% to 78% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 77% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.9
Avg class size
24.9
Infant (KS1)
24.2
KS2
18
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes
Newsletter #43
2 Oct 2026
Newsletter #42
25 Sep 2026
Newsletter #41
18 Sep 2026
Newsletter #40
11 Sep 2026
Newsletter #38
10 Jul 2026
Newsletter #37
3 Jul 2026
From John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes.
- CASP@John Ruskin SchoolAt the school · Not yet graded
- Little Learners London Childcare LimitedAt the school · Not yet graded
- Bethwin Road Playground310m away · Not yet graded
- Walworth After-School Club370m away · Not yet graded
- Best Childcare London Ltd.410m away · Not yet graded
- Gk Child Care Services At Aurora House620m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes is a community school, so its term dates are set by Southwark. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 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 John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes is in Southwark; for families living there:
- Southwark's school travel policy: travel assistance policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 180
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 39
- Children hurt
- 13
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 180 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 39 serious and 141 slight.
13 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 7 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 5 in a vehicle or otherwise.
29 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 Southwark is 154.5 (the median across 122 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 John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes
Will you get a place at John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes:
- The straight-line distance from your home to John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes.
- Southwark publishes last distance offered figures, but none for John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Southwark 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
416 pupils
420 places
4 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 Southwark council
Places available
3,137
Applications
2,248
Got 1st preference
84.3%
Got preferred school
98.0%
All primary applications across Southwark council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
50
SEN Support
49
EHC Plans
21.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes has a SEN unit for speech, language and communication needs: 24 places, 24 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
452
Total Pupils
231
Boys
221
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
24
Teachers
18.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£60,387
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,442
Per pupil
£3656k
Total funding
£358k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.9%
Overall absence
15.8%
Persistent absence
380
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
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes
Questions parents ask about John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes
What are SATs results like at John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes?
Of the pupils at John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 72% reached the expected standard in reading and 78% did so in maths.
What is John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes's Ofsted rating?
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2023.
What is the catchment area for John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes?
No fixed boundary. When John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes is oversubscribed, Southwark allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes?
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes?
Classes at John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes average 23.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes?
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes has around 452 pupils on roll. 57% are eligible for free school meals.
Does John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes have specialist SEN provision?
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes has a SEN unit for speech, language and communication needs: 24 places, 24 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes?
5.9% of sessions were missed at John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes in 2024/25. 15.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes?
Apply through Southwark's coordinated admissions process, naming John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes 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 John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs at the school: CASP@John Ruskin School (registered, not yet graded) and Little Learners London Childcare Limited (registered, not yet graded). There are 4 more within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes's term dates?
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes is a community school, so its term dates are set by Southwark. In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 180 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 39 serious and 141 slight. 13 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 7 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 5 in a vehicle or otherwise. 29 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 Southwark is 154.5 (the median across 122 schools, same distance and years).
Where is John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes?
John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes is at John Ruskin Street, Camberwell, London, SE5 0PQ.
Sources: Southwark term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)