St John the Divine Church of England Primary School, London
St John the Divine Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in London. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 893rd-highest of the 959 schools in London with published results, and 11,486th of 14,452 across England. It was 56% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Lambeth (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
St John the Divine Church of England Primary School in detail
St John the Divine Church of England Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "St John the Divine is a Church of England primary school which links with the surrounding communities in both Lambeth and Southwark. You will find our school in Camberwell, not far from the Oval."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils at St John the Divine Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 52% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 82% and 80% in Lambeth and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (81% in reading, 56% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St John the Divine Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 8 families put St John the Divine Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 24 named it as one of their preferences, for 11 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 St John the Divine Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St John the Divine Church of England Primary School are St Joseph's Catholic Infants School (0.2 miles, Good); St Joseph's Catholic Junior School (0.2 miles, Good, 71% reading, 83% maths); Christ Church Primary SW9 (0.3 miles, Good, 81% reading, 81% maths); and John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 72% reading, 78% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than St John the Divine Church of England Primary School.
St Joseph's Catholic Infants SchoolSt Joseph's Catholic Junior SchoolChrist Church Primary SW9John Ruskin Primary School and Language Classes
Who goes there
46.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 73.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (53%), Mixed (14%) and other ethnic groups (11%).
In 2026, 22 pupils (22.7%) received SEN support and 3 (3.1%) 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
St John the Divine Church of England Primary School had 10 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Oval Underground Station, about 680 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Langton Road (->s), 40 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St John the Divine Church of England Primary School issued 9 suspensions, 6.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St John the Divine Church of England Primary School are Ark All Saints Academy (0.1 miles), Saint Gabriel's College (0.2 miles), Sacred Heart Catholic School (0.4 miles) and Lilian Baylis Technology School (0.8 miles).
Ark All Saints AcademySaint Gabriel's CollegeSacred Heart Catholic SchoolLilian Baylis Technology 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
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 November 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This small school excels at building strong, positive relationships where pupils feel safe and respected. The school has significantly improved its curriculum to be more ambitious and challenging, with particularly strong results in reading. Pupils benefit from a wide range of enrichment opportunities and are encouraged to take responsibility through roles as school councillors and well-being leaders.
Key Strengths
- Strong positive relationships between staff and pupils that make the school a pleasant and safe place
- Ambitious curriculum with clear learning intentions across all subjects, particularly strong in reading where Year 6 outcomes are high
- Comprehensive support for staff teaching some subjects like mathematics, helping teachers deliver content confidently
- Thoughtful personal, social and health education programme covering healthy relationships, online safety and different cultures
- High expectations and well-established routines that create a calm, settled learning environment
Areas for Improvement
- In some subjects, teaching does not help pupils recall prior knowledge or connect what they have learned over time, leaving them unsure how concepts link together
- Some curriculum subjects lack the same level of staff support as others, leading to unclear explanations and missed misconceptions
- Struggling readers do not always receive systematic support quickly enough to close gaps in phonics knowledge and catch up with peers
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Needlecraft club, netball, keyboard, choir, music workshops at renowned venues, school council, well-being leaders, garden care responsibilities
St John the Divine Church of England Primary School is a small primary school where staff build strong relationships with pupils and have high expectations of all learners. The school has made widespread improvements to its curriculum since the last inspection with positive early impact on pupils' knowledge.
At a Glance
46.4%
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 remained stable at around 81% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 56% to 52% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 75% to 86% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
12.7
Avg class size
9.0
Infant (KS1)
14.5
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from St John the Divine Church of England Primary School
Friday 2nd October 2026
2 Oct 2026
Friday 25th September 2026
25 Sep 2026
Friday 18th September 2026
18 Sep 2026
Friday 11th September 2026
10 Sep 2026
Friday 4th September 2026
4 Sep 2026
Friday 17th July 2026
17 Jul 2026
From St John the Divine Church of England Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with St John the Divine Church of England Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St John the Divine Church of England Primary School.
- Best Childcare London Ltd.420m away · Not yet graded
- Gk Child Care Services At Aurora House470m away · Not yet graded
- CASP@John Ruskin School490m away · Not yet graded
- Camberwell After School Project550m away · Ofsted: Good
- Bethwin Road Playground560m away · Not yet graded
- Little Learners London Childcare Limited610m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St John the Divine Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St John the Divine Church of England Primary School is in Lambeth; for families living there:
- Lambeth's school travel policy: Home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 146
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 28
- Children hurt
- 11
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 146 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 28 serious and 117 slight.
11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 9 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
33 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 Lambeth is 142.5 (the median across 102 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 St John the Divine Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at St John the Divine Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St John the Divine Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St John the Divine Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St John the Divine Church of England Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Lambeth, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St John the Divine Church of England Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Lambeth 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
56%
Available places
118 pupils
210 places
92 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 Lambeth council
Places available
2,650
Applications
2,122
Got 1st preference
80.6%
Got preferred school
96.5%
All primary applications across Lambeth council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
22
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
25.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
97
Total Pupils
45
Boys
52
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
9.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£76,831
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,077
Per pupil
£1156k
Total funding
£85k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.7%
Overall absence
22.6%
Persistent absence
124
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
St John the Divine Church of England Primary School
Questions parents ask about St John the Divine Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at St John the Divine Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at St John the Divine Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 81% reached the expected standard in reading and 52% did so in maths.
What is St John the Divine Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St John the Divine Church of England Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023.
What is the catchment area for St John the Divine Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St John the Divine Church of England Primary School is oversubscribed, Lambeth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St John the Divine Church of England Primary School?
St John the Divine Church of England Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 56% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St John the Divine Church of England Primary School?
Classes at St John the Divine Church of England Primary School average 12.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St John the Divine Church of England Primary School?
St John the Divine Church of England Primary School has around 97 pupils on roll. 46% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St John the Divine Church of England Primary School?
7.7% of sessions were missed at St John the Divine Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 22.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St John the Divine Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Lambeth's coordinated admissions process, naming St John the Divine Church of England 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 St John the Divine Church of England Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 6 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of St John the Divine Church of England Primary School: Best Childcare London Ltd. (420m away, registered, not yet graded), Gk Child Care Services At Aurora House (470m away, registered, not yet graded) and CASP@John Ruskin School (490m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St John the Divine Church of England Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 146 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 28 serious and 117 slight. 11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 9 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 33 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 Lambeth is 142.5 (the median across 102 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St John the Divine Church of England Primary School?
St John the Divine Church of England Primary School is at Warham Street, Camberwell New Road, London, SE5 0SX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)