Furze Infant School
Furze Infant School is a community school in Barking And Dagenham for pupils aged 3 to 7. It has 452 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Furze Infant School is Good, from an inspection in September 2024.
Ofsted inspection: September 2024.
| Type | Primary / Community school |
| Age Range | 3-7 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Bennett Road Chadwell Heath Romford Essex RM6 6ES |
| Reference Number | 101203 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 452 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 55.75%
Girls: 44.25% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 14% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 71.9% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 26.5 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 26.5 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 76 | 63 | 139 |
| 2 | 77 | 60 | 137 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Pakistani | 25.4% |
| Indian | 14.2% |
| White, Other | 10.6% |
| African | 7.3% |
| White, British | 6% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 3.5% |
| Asian, Other | 3.1% |
| Mixed, Other | 2% |
| White & Asian | 0.9% |
| White & Black (African) | 0.9% |
| Caribbean | 0.9% |
| Chinese | 0.2% |
Furze Infant School maintains its status as a good school, upholding a motto of 'learning happily together.' Leaders have high expectations of all pupils and have instituted a broad and balanced curriculum that includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school fosters a positive learning environment where pupils behave well and enjoy their lessons. Their engagement extends beyond classrooms, with various clubs and activities enriching their educational experience. The atmosphere is safe, with pupils feeling confident to approach staff with any issues.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | 16 Jul 2024 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 16 Jul 2024 | School inspection |
| 22 Jan 2019 | Full inspection: |
| 01 May 2018 | Short inspection |
| 18 Sep 2013 | Full inspection: |
| 24 Nov 2011 | Full inspection: |
| 25 Jun 2009 | Full inspection: |
| 09 May 2006 | Full inspection: |
| 18 Jan 2000 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- High expectations for all pupils.
- Broad and balanced curriculum.
- Strong emphasis on early reading and phonics.
- Effective support for pupils with SEND.
- Positive behaviour and engagement during lessons.
- Variety of enrichment activities and clubs.
- Strong parental and staff support for the school.
Areas for Improvement
- In some foundation subjects, important content is not precisely identified, leading to gaps in pupils' learning.
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 | 30 | 3 |
| Third Preference | 19 | 2 |
| From another Local Authority | 18 | 7 |
Previous years
Sample
UnlockPlaces and pupil numbers
In 2024–25 Furze Infant School had 414 pupils for 420 places. 6 places (1.4%) were unfilled.
Pupils and places
Reception intake in the “North Primary” planning area
Barking and Dagenham counted 625 Reception pupils in this area in 2024–25 and forecasts 625 in 2029–30, down 0%.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Places | 336 | 336 | 364 | 364 | 364 | 364 | 392 | 420 | 420 | 420 | 420 | 420 | 420 | 420 | 420 |
| Pupils | 335 | 361 | 358 | 361 | 360 | 362 | 388 | 388 | 419 | 418 | 419 | 416 | 414 | 418 | 414 |
| Unfilled | 0.3% | 0.0% | 1.6% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 1.0% | 7.6% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 1.0% | 1.4% | 0.5% | 1.4% |
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 Furze Infant School attended 94.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 17.8% 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 | 3.0% | 3.7% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 5.2% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 3.9% | 4.2% |
| Unauthorised absence | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 0.8% | 1.6% | 2.2% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Severely absent pupils | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.0% |
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 Furze Infant 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 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 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 Furze Infant School had 21.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.0% 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 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.5 | 11.7 | 11.4 | 12.0 | 11.2 | 10.7 | 10.5 | 12.4 | 12.5 | 10.5 | 10.9 | 12.4 | 11.4 | 11.0 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 5.4% | 7.1% | 16.8% | 17.7% | 13.8% | 12.9% | 0.0% | 4.9% | 23.5% | 0.0% | 6.6% | 10.6% | 0.0% | 2.8% | 5.0% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 47.4% | 34.8% | 42.3% | 14.8% | 23.1% | 30.0% | 56.5% | 54.2% | 60.9% | – | 46.4% | 65.4% | 58.3% | 54.2% | 52.2% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 1.6 | 1.0 | 5.6 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 4.5 | – | 7.1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 2.2 | – |
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, 11.7% of pupils at Furze Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).
Pupils by main type of need
| SEN support | EHC plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 25 | 10 |
| Speech, language and communication needs | 20 | 1 |
| Moderate learning difficulty | 3 | 0 |
| Hearing impairment | 2 | 0 |
| Social, emotional and mental health | 2 | 0 |
| Down's syndrome | 0 | 1 |
| Physical disability | 1 | 0 |
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 Furze Infant School received £7,538 and spent £7,816 for each of its 426 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £68,000 (£160 per pupil).
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £28,000 | £109,000 | £299,000 | £176,000 | £378,000 | £478,000 | £178,000 | £68,000 |
| per pupil | £61 | £235 | £626 | £383 | £839 | £1,049 | £407 | £160 |
| In-year balance | £23,000 | £81,000 | £190,000 | -£3,000 | -£123,000 | £8,000 | -£204,000 | -£118,000 |
| per pupil | £51 | £174 | £398 | -£6 | -£274 | £17 | -£467 | -£278 |
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 |
|
Warren Junior School
Gordon Road, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex, RM6 6DA |
0.35 miles |
|
St Bede's Catholic Primary School
Canon Avenue, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex, RM6 5RR |
0.72 miles |
|
Chadwell Primary School
High Road, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex, RM6 4EU |
0.79 miles |
|
Henry Green Primary School
Green Lane, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 1UR |
0.85 miles |
|
Grafton Primary School
Grafton Primary School, Grafton Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 3EX |
0.88 miles |
|
Grove Primary School
Chadwell Heath Lane, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex, RM6 4XS |
0.98 miles |
|
Valence Primary School
Bonham Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 3AR |
0.99 miles |
|
Rose Lane Primary School
Rose Lane, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex, RM6 5NJ |
1.01 miles |
|
William Bellamy Primary School
Frizlands Lane, East, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 7HX |
1.05 miles |
|
Crowlands Primary School
London Road, Romford, RM7 9EJ |
1.08 miles |
|
St Vincent's Catholic Primary School
Burnside Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 2JN |
1.11 miles |
|
Five Elms Primary School
Wood Lane, Five Elms Primary School, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 5TB |
1.15 miles |
|
Barley Lane Primary School
Huxley Drive, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex, RM6 4RJ |
1.16 miles |
|
Al-Noor Voluntary Aided Muslim Primary School
619-629 Green Lane, Goodmayes, Ilford, Essex, IG3 9RP |
1.17 miles |
|
Goodmayes Primary School
Castleton Road, Goodmayes, Ilford, Essex, IG3 9RW |
1.2 miles |
|
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Connor Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 5UL |
1.33 miles |
|
Eastcourt Independent School
1 Eastwood Road, Goodmayes, Ilford, Essex, IG3 8UW |
1.36 miles |
|
Farnham Green Primary School
Royal Close, Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex, IG3 8UY |
1.37 miles |
|
Southwood Primary School
Keppel Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 5LT |
1.4 miles |
|
Becontree Primary School
Stevens Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 2QR |
1.41 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
The Warren School
Whalebone Lane North, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex, RM6 6SB |
0.38 miles |
|
The Compass School
373 London Road, Romford, RM7 9NU |
0.57 miles |
|
St Edward's Church of England Academy
London Road, Romford, Essex, RM7 9NX |
0.62 miles |
|
All Saints Catholic School and Technology College
Terling Road, Wood Lane, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 1JT |
0.77 miles |
|
Robert Clack School
Gosfield Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 1JU |
0.85 miles |
|
Newbridge School
161 Gresham Drive, Romford, Essex, RM6 4TR |
0.95 miles |
|
Chadwell Heath Academy
Christie Gardens, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex, RM6 4RS |
0.95 miles |
|
Mayfield School
Pedley Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 1XE |
0.97 miles |
|
Atam Academy
Little Heath, Romford, Essex, RM6 4XX |
1.18 miles |
|
Little Heath School
Hainault Road, Little Heath, Romford, Essex, RM6 5RX |
1.27 miles |
|
SENARP Vibe Independent School
195-211 Becontree Avenue, Dagenham, RM8 2UT |
1.28 miles |
|
Trinity School
Heathway, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 7SJ |
1.34 miles |
|
Endeavour House School
78 Goodmayes Lane, Ilford, IG3 9QA |
1.59 miles |
|
The Sydney Russell School
Parsloes Avenue, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 5QT |
1.6 miles |
|
Barking and Dagenham College
DAGENHAM ROAD, RUSH GREEN, ROMFORD, ESSEX, RM7 0XU |
1.67 miles |
|
Eastbrook School
Dagenham Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 7UR |
1.71 miles |
|
Oxlow Bridge School
100 Wantz Road, Dagenham, RM10 8PP |
1.75 miles |
|
The Palmer Catholic Academy
Aldborough Road South, Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex, IG3 8EU |
2.02 miles |
|
Brook Sixth Form and Academy
Yew Tree Avenue, Rainham Road South, Dagenham, RM10 7FN |
2.05 miles |
|
Oaks Park High School
45-65 Oaks Lane, Newbury Park, Ilford, Essex, IG2 7PQ |
2.14 miles |
All schools in Barking And Dagenham · Barking and Dagenham local authority: places and applications
What is Furze Infant School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Furze Infant School is Good, from an inspection in September 2024.
When was Furze Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?
Furze Infant School was last inspected in September 2024.
How many pupils does Furze Infant School have?
Furze Infant School has 452 pupils on roll.
What age range does Furze Infant School cover?
Furze Infant School for pupils aged 3 to 7.
Where is Furze Infant School?
Furze Infant School is at Bennett Road, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex, RM6 6ES.