Turnham Academy

Turnham Academy has achieved a good overall effectiveness rating in its first inspection since becoming an academy. The school is well-regarded for its strong community ties and focus on creating a supportive environment where pupils thrive both academically and personally. Pupils feel safe and cared for, demonstrating positive behaviour and a desire to learn. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, with significant strengths in subjects like art, music, and physical education, showcasing leaders' commitment to delivering a rich educational experience. However, some curriculum areas need further development, as a few subjects are not taught in sufficient depth, which can hinder pupil learning. Additionally, a concerning number of pupils are not attending school regularly, impacting their access to learning. Leaders recognize these issues and are already working on strategies to enhance curriculum delivery and improve attendance.

Strengths

• Strong community involvement and support for pupils
• Well-structured phonics lessons from early years
• Effective management of pupil behaviour in lessons
• Teachers use clear concepts and check understanding
• Commitment to providing a rich educational experience
• Extensive range of extracurricular clubs available
• High standards set by staff, encouraging pupil aspiration

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum not fully developed in some subjects
• Insufficient depth of content in certain areas
• High rate of pupil absenteeism affecting learning

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 Turnham Academy attended 94.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 18.2% 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, 0.6% of pupils at Turnham Academy 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 Turnham Academy had 15.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 50.0% 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, 7.7% of pupils at Turnham Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.4% 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 Turnham Academy received £9,301 and spent £9,561 for each of its 171 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £61,000 (£355 per pupil).

Across all 18 schools of Step Academy Trust, income was £8,072 and spending £8,194 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 Lewisham · Lewisham local authority: places and applications

Turnham Academy is part of Step Academy Trust, which runs 19 schools. The nearest others:

• Angel Oak Academy London
• David Livingstone Academy Thornton Heath
• La Fontaine Academy Bromley
• Gonville Academy Thornton Heath
• Westbridge Academy London
• Heathfield Academy Croydon
• Benedict Academy Mitcham
• Beddington Park Academy Croydon
• Applegarth Academy Croydon
• Park Academy London

What is Turnham Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Turnham Academy is Good, from an inspection in November 2022.

When was Turnham Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Turnham Academy was last inspected in November 2022.

How many pupils does Turnham Academy have?

Turnham Academy has 168 pupils on roll.

What age range does Turnham Academy cover?

Turnham Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Turnham Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Turnham Academy?

Turnham Academy is at Turnham Road, Brockley, London, SE4 2HH.