South Chingford Foundation School, London
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
South Chingford is a welcoming small school where pupils feel they belong and are respected by staff and peers. The school excels at supporting pupils' next steps after school, with most moving successfully into further education, employment or training. The school provides excellent opportunities for enrichment including educational visits, Duke of Edinburgh awards, and leadership roles that help broaden pupils' experiences beyond the classroom.
Key Strengths
- Safeguarding is effective with a strong open culture where pupils feel safe
- Well-organized careers programme that supports all pupils including disadvantaged students and those with SEND
- Enrichment activities including museum visits, theatre trips, and Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme available to all pupils
- Positive relationships between pupils and staff with respectful behaviour towards each other
- Leaders have clear understanding of school strengths and weaknesses with detailed improvement plans in place
Areas for Improvement
- Pupils' progress through curriculum is inconsistent with achievement significantly below national average in most measures
- Attendance is well below national figures - too many pupils do not attend school often enough
- Teaching quality is inconsistent across the school with too many gaps in foundational skills like times tables and reading
- Support systems for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils are at early stages and not yet showing clear improvements
- Personal development programme not delivered consistently due to staff training gaps and limited time allocation
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's Award (bronze and silver), peer mentoring, curriculum enrichment days with museum visits and theatre trips, take your child to work programme (Year 10), leadership opportunities, academic and cultural visits
South Chingford Foundation School is a small foundation school where pupils feel safe and part of a community, but the school requires improvement in academic achievement, attendance, and consistent teaching quality.
At a Glance
40.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
23.7
Avg class size
26
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
81%
Available places
547 pupils
675 capacity
128 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for London
Admissions Demand - Waltham Forest
Places available
3,090
Applications
2,739
Got 1st preference
84.6%
Got preferred school
97.2%
Secondary admissions across Waltham Forest (2025/26)
Inspection History(4)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
13.353%
Overall absence
46.86567%
Persistent absence
670
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
South Chingford Foundation School
Selwyn Primary School
Chapel End Junior Academy
Chapel End Infant School and Early Years Centre
Ainslie Wood Primary School
Salisbury Manor Primary School
Walthamstow Primary Academy
Handsworth Primary School
Thorpe Hall Primary School
Roger Ascham Primary School
Oakhill Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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