John Stainer Community Primary School, London
John Stainer Community 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 February 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 839th-highest of the 959 schools in London with published results, and 9,982nd of 14,452 across England. It was 92% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
- 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 Lewisham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
John Stainer Community Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at John Stainer Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 69% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 80% and 78% in Lewisham and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 83% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at John Stainer Community Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 37 families put John Stainer Community Primary School as their first choice and 242 named it as one of their preferences, for 56 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 John Stainer Community Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to John Stainer Community Primary School are Haberdashers' Hatcham Free School (0.3 miles, Outstanding, 92% reading, 92% maths); Turnham Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 92% reading, 92% maths); Ivydale Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 83% reading, 77% maths); and Beecroft Garden Primary (0.5 miles, Good, 95% reading, 80% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than John Stainer Community Primary School.
Haberdashers' Hatcham Free SchoolTurnham AcademyIvydale Primary SchoolBeecroft Garden Primary
Who goes there
34.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (35%), Mixed (23%) and White British (20%).
In 2026, 53 pupils (13.3%) received SEN support and 11 (2.8%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
John Stainer Community Primary School had 16 teachers in 2026, one for every 24 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Brockley Station, about 100 metres away (roughly a 1-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Endwell Road, 170 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
John Stainer Community Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to John Stainer Community Primary School are Haberdashers' Hatcham College (0.3 miles), Prendergast School (0.7 miles), Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich (0.8 miles) and Addey and Stanhope School (0.9 miles).
Haberdashers' Hatcham CollegePrendergast SchoolHarris Girls' Academy East DulwichAddey and Stanhope 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; DfE school workforce census; 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 · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
John Stainer excels at creating an inclusive, welcoming environment where pupils feel safe, supported and eager to learn. The school delivers an ambitious curriculum with a strong focus on reading and language development, ensuring pupils develop deep knowledge and are very well prepared for the next stage of education. Staff care deeply about each child's well-being and personal development, with excellent behaviour and respect evident throughout the school.
Key Strengths
- Excellent behaviour and respect among pupils, with a strong inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels safe and welcome
- Ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum that builds deep knowledge, with pupils producing high-quality work across subjects
- Expert phonics teaching and promotion of reading love, resulting in pupils becoming accurate, confident and fluent readers
- Outstanding support for pupils with increasing complex SEND needs through staff training and external professional partnerships
- Exceptional leadership at all levels with a focus on continuous improvement and staff well-being
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with clear procedures and staff who support pupils' welfare and mental well-being.
Extracurricular Activities
Sailing lessons, famous author visits, first-aid training, after-school clubs, daily story reading, poetry recitation, book club (phone box in playground), attendance advocate roles, school councillor positions, digital leader roles, friendship ambassador roles, community events, fundraising activities
John Stainer is an exceptional school where staff are determined to support all pupils to achieve their best. The school has high expectations for all learners, including those with special educational needs, and provides an ambitious curriculum with a wealth of enriching opportunities.
At a Glance
22.3%
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 declined from 83% to 73% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 69% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 57% to 69% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.0
Avg class size
25.5
Infant (KS1)
28.0
KS2
16
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with John Stainer Community Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near John Stainer Community Primary School.
- Thrive Together C.I.C530m away · Not yet graded
- The Strings Club (Nunhead)630m away · Not yet graded
- Magna Extended Schools at Ivydale Primary school630m away · Not yet graded
- Activ Camps at Nunhead Sports Ground630m away · Not yet graded
- Ballers Sports Coaching Ltd830m away · Not yet graded
- First Class Learning - Brockley960m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
John Stainer Community Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Lewisham. 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
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to John Stainer Community Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. John Stainer Community Primary School is in Lewisham; for families living there:
Apply to Lewisham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 102
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 20
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 102 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 20 serious and 82 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 4 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 Lewisham is 75 (the median across 98 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 Stainer Community Primary School
Will you get a place at John Stainer Community Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against John Stainer Community Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for John Stainer Community Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to John Stainer Community Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Lewisham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at John Stainer Community Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Lewisham 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
387 pupils
420 places
33 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 Lewisham council
Places available
3,323
Applications
2,840
Got 1st preference
87.4%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All primary applications across Lewisham council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
53
SEN Support
11
EHC Plans
16.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
400
Total Pupils
203
Boys
197
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
25.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,517
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,278
Per pupil
£2723k
Total funding
£127k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.5%
Overall absence
9.6%
Persistent absence
355
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 Stainer Community Primary School
Questions parents ask about John Stainer Community Primary School
What are SATs results like at John Stainer Community Primary School?
Of the pupils at John Stainer Community Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 73% reached the expected standard in reading and 69% did so in maths.
What is John Stainer Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
John Stainer Community Primary School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024.
What is the catchment area for John Stainer Community Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When John Stainer Community Primary School is oversubscribed, Lewisham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at John Stainer Community Primary School?
John Stainer Community Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 92% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at John Stainer Community Primary School?
Classes at John Stainer Community Primary School average 25 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to John Stainer Community Primary School?
John Stainer Community Primary School has around 400 pupils on roll. 22% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at John Stainer Community Primary School?
4.5% of sessions were missed at John Stainer Community Primary School in 2024/25. 9.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to John Stainer Community Primary School?
Apply through Lewisham's coordinated admissions process, naming John Stainer Community 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 John Stainer Community Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 6 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of John Stainer Community Primary School: Thrive Together C.I.C (530m away, registered, not yet graded), The Strings Club (Nunhead) (630m away, registered, not yet graded) and Magna Extended Schools at Ivydale Primary school (630m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are John Stainer Community Primary School's term dates?
John Stainer Community Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Lewisham. 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 Stainer Community Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 102 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 20 serious and 82 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 4 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 Lewisham is 75 (the median across 98 schools, same distance and years).
Where is John Stainer Community Primary School?
John Stainer Community Primary School is at Mantle Road, Brockley, London, SE4 2DY.
Sources: Lewisham term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)