The Palmer Catholic Academy, Ilford
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 · 7 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The Palmer Catholic Academy creates a warm, inclusive environment where pupils feel secure and behave well. The school demonstrates excellent attendance rates and provides strong support for disadvantaged pupils, many of whom achieve above national averages. Staff are well-supported and proud to work there, contributing to a calm and well-organised learning environment underpinned by the school's Catholic mission.
Key Strengths
- Attendance significantly above national averages, including for disadvantaged pupils
- Strong positive behaviour and respectful school culture rooted in Catholic values
- Effective support for disadvantaged pupils, with many achieving above national averages
- Close monitoring of pupils' needs and appropriate use of external agencies
- Well-supported staff who feel valued and proud to work at the school
Areas for Improvement
- Early reading provision lacks systematic phonics expertise, causing persistent reading difficulties
- Teaching quality is variable and does not consistently check or deepen pupils' understanding
- Limited extra-curricular clubs with low pupil participation
- Pupils' understanding of British values like democracy and rule of law needs strengthening
- Post-16 students achieve lower grades than expected with inconsistent teaching quality across subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Culture Day, employer taster days, science and engineering trips, school production (planned), music provision (expanding), academic and pastoral mentoring
The Palmer Catholic Academy is a well-organised Catholic school with a strong, caring ethos where pupils feel safe and interact harmoniously. The school has made improvements in behaviour and attendance, though there are areas needing development in reading provision, teaching quality consistency, and enrichment opportunities.
At a Glance
33.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
23.1
Avg class size
39
Total classes
5 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
96%
Near capacity
1,132 pupils
1,174 capacity
42 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Ilford
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Ilford
Admissions Demand - Redbridge
Places available
3,709
Applications
3,444
Got 1st preference
67.6%
Got preferred school
93.1%
Secondary admissions across Redbridge (2025/26)
Inspection History(5)
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
7.30863%
Overall absence
24.14487%
Persistent absence
994
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Palmer Catholic Academy
St Aidan's Catholic Primary Academy
Downshall Primary School
Aldborough Primary School
South Park Primary School
SS Peter and Paul's Catholic Primary School
Gordon Primary School
Eastcourt Independent School
Winston Way Academy
Mayespark Primary School
Christchurch Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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