Odessa Infant School has closed (Monday 31 August 2026).
It merged with another school.
Odessa Infant School, London
Odessa Infant School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 7 in London. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade. It was 60% full in 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Newham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Odessa Infant School in detail
Getting a place at Odessa Infant School
For September 2026 entry, 37 families put Odessa Infant School as their first choice and 102 named it as one of their preferences, for 44 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Odessa Infant School are St James' CofE Primary School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 74% reading, 81% maths); Earlham Primary School (0.2 miles, Outstanding, 84% reading, 93% maths); Maryland Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 72% reading, 77% maths); and Woodgrange Infant School (0.5 miles, Good).
St James' CofE Primary SchoolEarlham Primary SchoolMaryland Primary SchoolWoodgrange Infant School
Who goes there
34.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 66.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (38%), Black (21%) and Mixed (12%).
In 2026, 26 pupils (13.8%) received SEN support and 12 (6.3%) 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.
Staffing
Odessa Infant School had 12 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Forest Gate Rail Station, about 400 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St James' School, 90 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Odessa Infant School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Odessa Infant School excels at creating a happy, nurturing environment where every child feels safe and develops a love of learning. The school provides excellent support for children with additional needs and disadvantaged pupils, ensuring they achieve their best. Pupils benefit from a rich curriculum with inspiring trips and enrichment activities that broaden their horizons and build their confidence.
Key Strengths
- Excellent behaviour and strong sense of community where all pupils feel valued and equal
- Highly ambitious and well-taught curriculum with enrichment activities like visits to the Royal Albert Hall and museums
- Very effective support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, with well-considered adaptations and specialist provision
- Strong emphasis on developing language, communication and reading skills with daily story time and library visits
- Excellent wider provision including yoga, mindfulness, trips to seaside and camping, and specialist teachers for dance and gymnastics
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Royal Albert Hall music visit, local area history workshop, yoga sessions, seaside visits, Year 2 forest camping, museum and art gallery visits, theatre visits, ballet lessons, street dance lessons, gymnastics lessons, author visits, religious leader visits, theatrical performance groups
Odessa Infant School is a very happy, kind and nurturing school where pupils enjoy learning and feel safe from Nursery onwards. Evidence suggests the school's work has improved significantly since the previous inspection.
At a Glance
34.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
21.8
Avg class size
25.5
Infant (KS1)
8
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Odessa Infant School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Odessa Infant School.
- Elite Kids ChildcareAt the school · Not yet graded
- Global Switch Professionals Childcare Centre480m away · Not yet graded
- Globe Youth Limited480m away · Not yet graded
- THRIVE Tuition480m away · Not yet graded
- The Wright Education Limited At Maryland Primary School/children Centre660m away · Not yet graded
- Merit Tutors690m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Odessa Infant School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Odessa Infant School is in Newham; for families living there:
Apply to Newham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Odessa Infant School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
60%
Available places
161 pupils
270 places
109 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 Newham council
Places available
4,725
Applications
3,960
Got 1st preference
91.3%
Got preferred school
98.6%
All primary applications across Newham council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
26
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
20.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
189
Total Pupils
104
Boys
85
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
15.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£63,705
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,782
Per pupil
£1488k
Total funding
£94k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.8%
Overall absence
28.8%
Persistent absence
118
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Odessa Infant School
What is Odessa Infant School's Ofsted rating?
Odessa Infant School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Odessa Infant School?
No fixed boundary. When Odessa Infant School is oversubscribed, Newham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Odessa Infant School?
Odessa Infant School was not full in 2025: it ran at 60% of its 270 places.
How big are the classes at Odessa Infant School?
Classes at Odessa Infant School average 21.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Odessa Infant School?
Odessa Infant School has around 189 pupils on roll. 35% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Odessa Infant School?
7.8% of sessions were missed at Odessa Infant School in 2024/25. 28.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Odessa Infant School?
Apply through Newham's coordinated admissions process, naming Odessa Infant 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 Odessa Infant School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Elite Kids Childcare (registered, not yet graded). There are 5 more within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
Where is Odessa Infant School?
Odessa Infant School is at Wellington Road, London, E7 9BY.