Best Primary Schools in Waltham Forest 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 51 schools across Waltham Forest. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Waltham Forest has 51 open primary schools. Of the 51 with a published Ofsted inspection, 13 (25%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 96% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Yardley Primary School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Waltham Forest follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

51
Total schools
13
Outstanding (historic grade)
25%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
74.2%
Avg KS2 SATs
39.7
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Yardley Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 96 View school
🥈 St Mary's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 96 View school
🥉 South Grove Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 93 View school
4. Willow Brook Primary School Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 92 View school
5. St Saviour's Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 92 View school
6. Barclay Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 91 View school
7. Selwyn Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 91 View school
8. Davies Lane Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 91 View school
9. Riverley Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 90 View school
10. Sybourn Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 87 View school
11. The Winns Primary School
Primary
 Good 84 View school
12. Ainslie Wood Primary School
Primary
 Good 84 View school
13. Walthamstow Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 84 View school
14. Coppermill Primary School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
15. Roger Ascham Primary School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
16. The Woodside Primary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 82 View school
17. The Jenny Hammond Primary School
Primary
 Good 82 View school
18. Thomas Gamuel Primary School
Primary
 Good 82 View school
19. St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 81 View school
20. Whittingham Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 81 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Waltham Forest

Best primary schools in Waltham ForestTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in Waltham ForestTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in Waltham ForestPrimary & secondary combined Secondary schools in Waltham ForestYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in HackneyCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in RedbridgeCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in HaringeyCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in NewhamCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary schools are there in Waltham Forest?
There are 51 open primary schools in Waltham Forest (closed schools are excluded). 13 of the 51 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary schools in Waltham Forest?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary school in Waltham Forest is Yardley Primary School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Waltham Forest?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Waltham Forest?
Primary and secondary applications in Waltham Forest are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Waltham Forest council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.