Elizabeth Selby Infants' School
Elizabeth Selby Infants' School is a community school in Tower Hamlets for pupils aged 2 to 7. It has 258 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Elizabeth Selby Infants' School is Good, from an inspection in May 2023. Attendance is a concern: pupils missed 7.7% of sessions in 2024/25 (the national figure for primary schools is 5.2%), and 31% of pupils were persistently absent.
Ofsted inspection: May 2023.
| Type | Primary / Community school |
| Age Range | 2-7 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Old Bethnal Green Road Bethnal Green Elizabeth Selby Infant School London E2 6PP |
| Reference Number | 100908 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 258 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 53.88%
Girls: 46.12% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 39.5% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 93.8% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 26 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 27.5 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 | 26 | 59 |
| 2 | 19 | 28 | 47 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| African | 3.5% |
| Mixed, Other | 2.3% |
| White, British | 1.9% |
| Unclassified | 1.9% |
| Asian, Other | 1.9% |
| Chinese | 0.8% |
| Caribbean | 0.8% |
| Indian | 0.4% |
| White & Black (African) | 0.4% |
Elizabeth Selby Infants' School is continuing to perform well, maintaining its status as a good school with a strong commitment to its pupils' educational experience and personal development. Pupils demonstrate eagerness to learn, engage positively in their lessons, and benefit from a rich curriculum designed to prepare them for future academic challenges. The school stands out for its dedicated support to students, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), ensuring they receive tailored assistance that allows for meaningful participation in the curriculum.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | 28 Mar 2023 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 28 Mar 2023 | School inspection |
| 14 Nov 2017 | Short inspection |
| 14 May 2013 | Full inspection: |
| 11 Mar 2010 | Full inspection: |
| 17 Jan 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 20 Feb 2002 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Pupils show a high level of engagement and enjoyment in their learning.
- The school provides a broad and rich curriculum that prepares pupils for future learning.
- Leaders prioritize reading and have implemented a well-structured early reading curriculum.
- Strong support for pupils with SEND, including well-trained staff and tailored assistance.
- Pupils participate in various cultural and community activities, enriching their educational experience.
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff require further training to effectively deliver the phonics curriculum.
Reception admissions, 2026 entry
Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Second Preference | 15 | 0 |
| Third Preference | 4 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 2 | 2 |
Previous years
Sample
UnlockPlaces and pupil numbers
In 2024–25 Elizabeth Selby Infants' School had 165 pupils for 186 places. 21 places (11.3%) were unfilled.
Pupils and places
Reception intake in the “Tower Hamlets Primary: Bethnal Green” planning area
Tower Hamlets counted 462 Reception pupils in this area in 2024–25 and forecasts 412 in 2029–30, down 11%.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Places | 204 | 204 | 204 | 204 | 204 | 204 | 204 | 204 | 186 | 186 | 186 | 186 | 186 | 186 | 186 |
| Pupils | 215 | 221 | 209 | 215 | 215 | 200 | 186 | 194 | 186 | 174 | 172 | 173 | 169 | 168 | 165 |
| Unfilled | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.0% | 8.8% | 4.9% | 0.0% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 7.0% | 9.1% | 9.7% | 11.3% |
Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.
In 2024–25 pupils at Elizabeth Selby Infants' School attended 92.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 30.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 3.9% | 3.6% | 4.0% | 3.8% | 4.8% | 3.7% | 5.1% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 5.9% | 6.3% |
| Unauthorised absence | 1.1% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 0.3% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 2.0% | 1.4% |
| Severely absent pupils | 0.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.7% | 2.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.7% | 0.0% |
Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.
In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Elizabeth Selby Infants' School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.
In 2025–26 Elizabeth Selby Infants' School had 18.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 28.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 12.6 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 7.8 | 6.6 | 7.3 | 7.7 | 9.4 | 8.5 | 7.9 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 6.6 | 6.6 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 0.0% | 25.8% | 8.0% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 7.1% | 23.1% | 0.0% | 8.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 16.9% | 28.6% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 58.3% | 88.2% | 68.8% | 64.7% | 66.7% | 62.5% | 71.4% | 53.8% | 77.8% | – | 50.0% | 54.5% | 33.3% | 58.3% | 61.5% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 5.3 | 15.7 | 3.5 | 7.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 7.5 | 3.9 | 3.7 | – | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 16.0 | 5.5 | – |
Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.
In 2025–26, 15.1% of pupils at Elizabeth Selby Infants' School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 8.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).
The school has resourced provision with 10 pupils.
Pupils by main type of need
| SEN support | EHC plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Speech, language and communication needs | 17 | 4 |
| Specific learning difficulty | 17 | 1 |
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 1 | 15 |
| Physical disability | 2 | 1 |
| Social, emotional and mental health | 1 | 1 |
| Hearing impairment | 1 | 0 |
| Profound and multiple learning difficulty | 0 | 1 |
Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.
In 2025–26 Elizabeth Selby Infants' School received £11,694 and spent £11,448 for each of its 223 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £476,000 (£2,141 per pupil).
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £101,000 | £262,000 | £280,000 | £181,000 | £249,000 | £311,000 | £421,000 | £476,000 |
| per pupil | £444 | £1,205 | £1,217 | £811 | £1,146 | £1,367 | £1,886 | £2,141 |
| In-year balance | £47,000 | £160,000 | £18,000 | -£99,000 | £68,000 | £62,000 | £111,000 | £55,000 |
| per pupil | £205 | £739 | £80 | -£447 | £314 | £274 | £495 | £247 |
Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).
| Name | Distance |
|
Lawdale Junior School
Mansford Street, Bethnal Green, London, E2 6LS |
0.05 miles |
|
Columbia Primary School
Columbia Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 7RG |
0.29 miles |
|
Hague Primary School
Wilmot Street, London, E2 0BP |
0.31 miles |
|
William Davis Primary School
Wood Close, Cheshire Street, London, E2 6ET |
0.33 miles |
|
Sebright School
Audrey Street, Goldsmiths Row, London, E2 8QH |
0.4 miles |
|
Stewart Headlam Primary School
Tapp Street, Stepney, London, E1 5RE |
0.41 miles |
|
St John's Church of England Primary School
Peel Grove, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9LR |
0.41 miles |
|
Columbia Market Nursery School
Columbia Road, London, E2 7PG |
0.46 miles |
|
Thomas Buxton Primary School
Buxton Street, Bethnal Green, Thomas Buxton Primary School, London, E1 5AR |
0.46 miles |
|
Osmani Primary School
Vallance Road, Whitechapel, London, E1 5AD |
0.51 miles |
|
Globe Primary School
Gawber Street, Bethnal Green, London, E2 0JH |
0.52 miles |
|
Bangabandhu Primary School
Wessex Street, Bethnal Green, London, E2 0LB |
0.52 miles |
|
Virginia Primary School
Virginia Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 7NQ |
0.53 miles |
|
St Anne's and Guardian Angels Catholic Primary School
Underwood Road, Whitechapel, London, E1 5AW |
0.54 miles |
|
Mowlem Primary School
Mowlem Street, Bishops Way, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9HE |
0.54 miles |
|
St Elizabeth Catholic Primary School
Bonner Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9JY |
0.61 miles |
|
London Fields Primary School
Westgate Street, Hackney, London, E8 3RL |
0.63 miles |
|
St. Paul's With St. Michael's CofE Primary School
57a Brougham Rd, Hackney, E8 4PB |
0.63 miles |
|
Bonner Primary School
Stainsbury Street, Bethnal Green, London, E2 0NF |
0.64 miles |
|
John Scurr Primary School
Cephas Street, Stepney Green, London, E1 4AX |
0.65 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Oaklands School
Old Bethnal Green Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 6PR |
0.1 miles |
|
Mulberry Academy Shoreditch
Gosset Street, Bethnal Green, London, E2 6NW |
0.27 miles |
|
City of London Academy, Shoreditch Park
Hyde Road, London, N1 5JU |
0.36 miles |
|
Darul Hadis Latifiah
1 Cornwall Avenue, London, E2 0HW |
0.44 miles |
|
Haggerston School
Weymouth Terrace, Hackney, London, E2 8LS |
0.46 miles |
|
Brick Lane School
Bacon Street, Tower Hamlets, E2 6DY |
0.48 miles |
|
Swanlea School
31 Brady Street, Whitechapel, London, E1 5DJ |
0.55 miles |
|
The Bridge Academy
Laburnum Street, Hackney, London, E2 8BA |
0.64 miles |
|
Morpeth School
Portman Place, Bethnal Green, London, E2 0PX |
0.69 miles |
|
London East Academy
46 Whitechapel Road, Whitechapel, London, E1 1JX |
0.77 miles |
|
Workers' Educational Association
4 Luke Street, London, EC2A 4XW |
0.8 miles |
|
OMG Education
85 Commercial Street, London, E1 6BG |
0.84 miles |
|
The Complete Works
1st Floor, Universal House, 88-94 Wentworth St, London, E1 7SA |
0.85 miles |
|
Madani Secondary Girls' School
Myrdle Street, London, E1 1HL |
0.88 miles |
|
London Islamic School
18-22 Damien Street, London, E1 2HX |
0.9 miles |
|
Waterside Academy
317-319 Kingsland Road, London, E8 4DL |
0.91 miles |
|
Mazahirul Uloom London School
241-243 Mile End Road, Stepney, London, E1 4AA |
0.92 miles |
|
London Enterprise Academy
81-91 Commercial Road, Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets, London, E1 1RD |
0.92 miles |
|
Wapping High School
153 Commercial Road, London, Not applicable, E1 2DA |
0.94 miles |
|
Central Foundation Boys' School
Cowper Street, City Road, London, EC2A 4SH |
0.98 miles |
All schools in Tower Hamlets · Tower Hamlets local authority: places and applications
What is Elizabeth Selby Infants' School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Elizabeth Selby Infants' School is Good, from an inspection in May 2023.
When was Elizabeth Selby Infants' School last inspected by Ofsted?
Elizabeth Selby Infants' School was last inspected in May 2023.
How many pupils does Elizabeth Selby Infants' School have?
Elizabeth Selby Infants' School has 258 pupils on roll.
What age range does Elizabeth Selby Infants' School cover?
Elizabeth Selby Infants' School for pupils aged 2 to 7.
Where is Elizabeth Selby Infants' School?
Elizabeth Selby Infants' School is at Old Bethnal Green Road, Bethnal Green, Elizabeth Selby Infant School, London, E2 6PP.