Valence Primary School

Valence Primary School has demonstrated consistent performance as a good school during its recent inspection. The school fosters a respectful environment and encourages pupils to take responsibility through various clubs and activities, which enhances their personal development. Academic expectations are high, and all students, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), are well supported in their learning. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, significantly improving reading outcomes, and overall pupil engagement is notably strong, as reflected by above-average attendance rates. However, there are areas in the writing curriculum that need further development to enhance pupil outcomes in this domain.

Strengths

• Strong emphasis on respectful behavior and independence among pupils.
• High academic expectations and effective support for pupils with SEND.
• Broad and ambitious curriculum with a focus on early reading.
• Opportunity for pupils to engage in numerous pupil-led clubs.
• Effective teaching strategies that break learning into manageable steps.
• High attendance rates and strong relationships with families.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum for writing lacks sufficient opportunities to master key skills.
• Quality of written work across subjects is not as high as expected.

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 Valence Primary School attended 94.9% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.6% 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, 0.2% of pupils at Valence Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were 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 Valence Primary School had 19.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.2% 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, 15.1% of pupils at Valence Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has a SEN unit with 36 pupils and resourced provision with 35 pupils.

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 Valence Primary School received £9,363 and spent £9,682 for each of its 811 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £749,000 (-£923 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 Valence Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Valence Primary School is Good, from an inspection in September 2024.

When was Valence Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Valence Primary School was last inspected in September 2024.

How many pupils does Valence Primary School have?

Valence Primary School has 848 pupils on roll.

What age range does Valence Primary School cover?

Valence Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Valence Primary School?

Valence Primary School is at Bonham Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 3AR.