Northbury Primary School, Barking

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Northbury Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders have a clear vision that early years will provide children with a highly successful start to their education."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The personal development programme is wide ranging and carefully matched to the needs and starting points of all pupils."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, attain broadly in line with national averages."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders are rightly prioritising attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have constructed a well-designed curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders identify pupils' individual needs accurately and at an early stage."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The new headteacher, ably supported by those responsible for governance and the wider leadership team, has established a clear direction for the next stage of the school's improvement."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue their work to embed high-quality teaching across the school. This includes ensuring there are consistent expectations about the quality, depth and precision of pupils' spoken language"; "Leaders should build on their success in securing further improvements to attendance for all pupils".

In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils at Northbury Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% 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 70% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 77 families put Northbury Primary School as their first choice and 167 named it as one of their preferences, for 77 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Northbury Primary School are St Margarets CofE Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 91% reading, 98% maths); Uphall Primary School (0.5 miles, Requires improvement, 85% reading, 83% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); and Woodlands Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 59% reading, 64% maths).

Northbury Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

72.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (55%), Black (20%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 116 pupils (13.9%) received SEN support and 21 (2.5%) 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.

The nearest Underground station is Barking Underground Station, about 430 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cowbridge Lane, 80 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Northbury Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 908 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Barking and Dagenham (470), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Northbury Primary School issued 5 suspensions, 0.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Northbury Primary School are Eastbury Community School (0.6 miles), Langdon Academy (0.7 miles), Greatfields School (0.7 miles) and Loxford School (0.8 miles).