Highlands Primary School

Highlands Primary School continues to demonstrate effective action in maintaining the high standards established during its previous inspection. The school fosters a warm and caring environment where pupils feel proud to attend. With an inclusive approach, the school has effectively supported pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), enabling them to achieve high academic outcomes. Engagement in various extra-curricular activities and a strong focus on personal development are notable strengths, contributing to a well-rounded educational experience.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve very highly and are thoroughly prepared for secondary education.
• Exceptional curriculum designed to meet diverse learning needs.
• Strong relationships built on respect and courtesy among pupils and staff.
• Effective support for vulnerable pupils, including those with SEND.
• High priority placed on reading and comprehensive phonics instruction.
• Engagement in personal development programs that teach important values.

Areas for Improvement

• Raising attendance remains an ongoing priority.

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 Highlands Primary School attended 93.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 17.7% 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 Highlands 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 Highlands Primary School had 27.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.1% 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, 11.5% of pupils at Highlands Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.0% 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 Highlands Primary School received £7,152 and spent £6,817 for each of its 676 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £249,000 (£369 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 Redbridge · Redbridge local authority: places and applications

What is Highlands Primary School's Ofsted rating?

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

When was Highlands Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Highlands Primary School was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does Highlands Primary School have?

Highlands Primary School has 676 pupils on roll.

What age range does Highlands Primary School cover?

Highlands Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Highlands Primary School?

Highlands Primary School is at Highlands Gardens, Ilford, Essex, IG1 3LE.