Community school · Waltham Forest

Downsell Primary School

2–11Ages
426Pupils
PrimaryPhase
103044URN

Downsell Road, Leyton, London, E15 2BS · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.7per place

1.5 below Waltham Forest median (3.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Waltham Forest

84 applications for 50 places · 45th of 45 in Waltham Forest

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

66%met the expected standard

Waltham Forest 77% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 29 November 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

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

1.7applications per place, Reception

1.5 below Waltham Forest median (3.2) 0.5 below England median (2.2)

84 applications · 50 places offered · 42 named it first

2026 1.7; Waltham Forest median median 3.2
2025 2.1; Waltham Forest median median 3.1
2024 1.6; Waltham Forest median median 3.0
2023 1.7; Waltham Forest median median 2.9
2022 1.9; Waltham Forest median median 2.8
2021 1.7; Waltham Forest median median 2.9
2020 1.9; Waltham Forest median median 2.8
2019 1.8; Waltham Forest median median 2.9
2018 2.1; Waltham Forest median median 2.9
2017 1.9; Waltham Forest median median 3.1
2016 1.9; Waltham Forest median median 3.2
2015 2.0; Waltham Forest median median 3.1
2014 2.0; Waltham Forest median median 3.2

More applications per place than the Waltham Forest median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Waltham Forest 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	50	84	1.7	42	0.84
Sep 2025	44	90	2.1	36	0.82
Sep 2024	25	40	1.6	23	0.92
Sep 2023	38	66	1.7	36	0.95
Sep 2022	39	73	1.9	37	0.95
Sep 2021	48	79	1.7	41	0.85
Sep 2020	46	89	1.9	41	0.89
Sep 2019	57	105	1.8	55	0.96
Sep 2018	60	124	2.1	56	0.93
Sep 2017	71	132	1.9	60	0.85
Sep 2016	64	123	1.9	56	0.88
Sep 2015	64	125	2.0	54	0.84
Sep 2014	72	141	2.0	57	0.79

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 71% · Writing 83% · Maths 76% → all three 66% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard66%39th of 48 in Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest 77% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard71%

Waltham Forest 85% England 78%

Higher standard39%

Waltham Forest 48% England 33%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard83%

Waltham Forest 83% England 75%

Greater depth32%

Waltham Forest 22% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard76%

Waltham Forest 88% England 77%

Higher standard25%

Waltham Forest 39% England 24%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Waltham Forest median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	66%	15%	106	106
2023/24	61%	2%	102	103
2022/23	65%	13%	104	104

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

Downsell Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

1.7applications per place 66%met the SATs standard
The Jenny Hammond Primary School
0.4 km · Waltham Forest

Remains Good2023

3.5applications per place 83%met the SATs standard
Colegrave Primary School
0.7 km · Newham

Remains Outstanding2023

2.7applications per place 80%met the SATs standard
Mayville Academy
0.7 km · Waltham Forest

Good2024

4.4applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
Maryland Primary School
0.7 km · Newham

Good2023

3.7applications per place 64%met the SATs standard
St Francis' Catholic Primary School
0.8 km · Newham

Remains Good · improving2024

2.3applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Newport School
1.0 km · Waltham Forest

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.5applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
Davies Lane Primary School
1.3 km · Waltham Forest

Outstanding2024

3.0applications per place 87%met the SATs standard
St James' CofE Primary School
1.3 km · Newham

Remains Good2023

67%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 103044 · 320/2017
Capacity: 695 pupils · 426 on roll
Free school meals: 33.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Replaced: Downsell Junior School (URN 103043)
Address: Downsell Road, Leyton, London, E15 2BS
Local authority: Waltham Forest

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