Aldborough Primary School

Aldborough Primary School is performing strongly across all areas of its work. Pupils achieve significantly above national averages in key stage 2 reading, writing and mathematics, including disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The curriculum is ambitious, well sequenced and delivered consistently well, with a strong emphasis on foundational skills in English and mathematics. Pupils behave very well, feel safe and are well prepared for the next stage of their education. Early years provision is a notable strength, with a rich language environment and careful assessment that helps children make strong progress. Leaders are highly effective in supporting the school's highly mobile pupil population, including pupils who join at non-traditional starting points or with little prior formal education. Attendance is broadly in line with national averages, and leaders work closely with families to improve persistent absence over time. The school is part of Loxford School Trust, and governance and trust support are effective. Staff, parents and pupils speak positively about the school community. Safeguarding standards are met, and the report identifies no areas of concern. The next steps ask leaders only to continue their highly effective work to maximise learning and development for all pupils. This was a full section 5 inspection.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve significantly above national averages in key stage 2 reading, writing and mathematics.
• Disadvantaged pupils attain better than non-disadvantaged peers nationally.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities achieve highly.
• The curriculum is ambitious, broad and well sequenced across subjects.
• Teaching consistently builds on secure prior knowledge and supports excellent progress.
• Assessment is used skilfully to adapt lessons and ensure knowledge is retained.
• Early years provision is rich in language and supports children's physical development well.
• Children in early years are prepared very well for their next steps, including Year 1.
• Inclusion is strong, with purposeful support for highly mobile pupils and those new to formal education.
• Additional funding for disadvantaged pupils is used effectively to remove barriers.
• Attendance support is effective, with persistent absence falling over pupils' time at the school.
• Behaviour is very positive and does not disrupt learning.
• Bullying, harassment and abuse are never tolerated.
• Leaders have improved early reading and phonics, with Year 1 phonics outcomes now above national figures.
• Governance and trust support are well targeted and uphold statutory obligations.
• Personal development is strong, with a rich enrichment programme including clubs, trips and careers experiences.
• Pupils develop responsibility and active citizenship through leadership roles and charity work.
• Pupils feel safe and have trusted staff to share concerns with.

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 Aldborough Primary School attended 94.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 15.5% 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, 1.6% of pupils at Aldborough 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 Aldborough Primary School had 16.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 13.6% 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, 8.9% of pupils at Aldborough Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.5% 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 2024–25 Aldborough Primary School received £6,948 and spent £6,370 for each of its 365 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £221,000 (£604 per pupil).

Across all 7 schools of Loxford School Trust Limited, income was £7,812 and spending £7,808 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Redbridge · Redbridge local authority: places and applications

Aldborough Primary School is part of Loxford School Trust Limited, which runs 7 schools. The nearest others:

• Loxford School Ilford
• The Warren School Romford
• Abbs Cross Academy and Arts College Hornchurch
• Gaynes School Upminster
• Cecil Jones Academy Southend-On-Sea
• Tabor Academy Braintree

What is Aldborough Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Aldborough Primary School is Strong standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Aldborough Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Aldborough Primary School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Aldborough Primary School have?

Aldborough Primary School has 347 pupils on roll.

What age range does Aldborough Primary School cover?

Aldborough Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

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

In 2025, 90% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Aldborough Primary School?

Aldborough Primary School is at 231 Aldborough Road South, Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex, IG3 8HZ.