Community school · Tower Hamlets

Old Palace Primary School

4–11Ages
386Pupils
PrimaryPhase
100892URN

St Leonard's Street, Bow, London, E3 3BT · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jan 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.6per place

0.4 below Tower Hamlets median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Tower Hamlets

81 applications for 51 places · 47th of 58 in Tower Hamlets

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

75%met the expected standard

Tower Hamlets 71% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 11 January 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision	Outstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.6applications per place, Reception

0.4 below Tower Hamlets median (2.0) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

81 applications · 51 places offered · 48 named it first

2026 1.6; Tower Hamlets median median 2.0
2025 1.8; Tower Hamlets median median 2.0
2024 1.9; Tower Hamlets median median 2.2
2023 1.8; Tower Hamlets median median 2.1
2022 1.9; Tower Hamlets median median 2.1
2021 1.9; Tower Hamlets median median 2.0
2020 2.0; Tower Hamlets median median 2.2
2019 1.9; Tower Hamlets median median 2.4
2018 2.5; Tower Hamlets median median 2.5
2017 2.8; Tower Hamlets median median 2.5
2016 2.7; Tower Hamlets median median 2.7
2015 3.0; Tower Hamlets median median 2.8
2014 3.2; Tower Hamlets median median 3.1

This school
Tower Hamlets median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	51	81	1.6	48	0.94
Sep 2025	44	80	1.8	43	0.98
Sep 2024	50	97	1.9	49	0.98
Sep 2023	60	105	1.8	60	1.00
Sep 2022	52	96	1.9	48	0.92
Sep 2021	60	115	1.9	55	0.92
Sep 2020	60	122	2.0	66	1.10
Sep 2019	60	114	1.9	60	1.00
Sep 2018	59	146	2.5	76	1.29
Sep 2017	58	161	2.8	75	1.29
Sep 2016	60	159	2.7	70	1.17
Sep 2015	57	173	3.0	75	1.32
Sep 2014	60	189	3.2	88	1.47

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 93% · Writing 86% · Maths 82% → all three 75% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard75%22nd of 60 in Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets 71% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard93%

Tower Hamlets 83% England 78%

Higher standard46%

Tower Hamlets 39% England 33%

Average scaled score 109 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard86%

Tower Hamlets 79% England 75%

Greater depth39%

Tower Hamlets 16% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard82%

Tower Hamlets 83% England 77%

Higher standard45%

Tower Hamlets 34% England 24%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Tower Hamlets median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	75%	25%	109	108
2023/24	81%	26%	108	107
2022/23	87%	28%	109	112

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Old Palace Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

1.6applications per place 75%met the SATs standard
St Agnes RC Primary School
0.3 km · Tower Hamlets

Outstanding2024

1.7applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
East London Arts & Music
0.5 km · Tower Hamlets

Not yet inspected
Marner Primary School
0.5 km · Tower Hamlets

Remains Good2022

2.0applications per place 69%met the SATs standard
Oasis School 360
0.6 km · Newham

Good2023

2.8applications per place
Wellington Primary School
0.7 km · Tower Hamlets

Outstanding2023

1.8applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
The Clara Grant Primary School
0.8 km · Tower Hamlets

2026

1.6applications per place 80%met the SATs standard
Manorfield Primary School
1.0 km · Tower Hamlets

Good2024

1.5applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Malmesbury Primary School
1.1 km · Tower Hamlets

Remains Good2023

2.0applications per place 67%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 100892 · 211/2059
Capacity: 420 pupils · 386 on roll
Free school meals: 30.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: St Leonard's Street, Bow, London, E3 3BT
Local authority: Tower Hamlets

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources