Grafton Primary School

Grafton Primary School has shown effective action in maintaining the high standards it was known for during its previous outstanding inspection. The school fosters a strong sense of community, where students feel safe and valued, contributing positively to an inclusive environment that emphasizes respect and democracy. The curriculum is ambitious and well-structured, providing a solid foundation for pupils, especially in early reading and mathematics. Additionally, various extracurricular activities enrich students' learning experiences and personal development.

Strengths

• Strong sense of community and belonging among pupils
• High expectations for pupils' learning across all year groups
• Broad and ambitious curriculum, including effective support for SEND
• Well-structured enrichment program providing diverse cultural experiences
• Effective safeguarding arrangements and high attendance rates

Areas for Improvement

• Older pupils at early stages of reading lack sufficient support
• Limited opportunities for pupils to develop writing skills across the curriculum

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 Grafton Primary School attended 94.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 17.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

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, 1.2% of pupils at Grafton Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

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 Grafton Primary School had 22.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 30.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

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, 18.2% of pupils at Grafton Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

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 Grafton Primary School received £7,847 and spent £7,936 for each of its 871 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £236,000 (-£271 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Barking And Dagenham · Barking and Dagenham local authority: places and applications

What is Grafton Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Grafton Primary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in May 2025.

When was Grafton Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Grafton Primary School was last inspected in May 2025.

How many pupils does Grafton Primary School have?

Grafton Primary School has 892 pupils on roll.

What age range does Grafton Primary School cover?

Grafton Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Grafton Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 56% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Grafton Primary School?

Grafton Primary School is at Grafton Primary School, Grafton Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 3EX.