How should you compare primary schools in London?

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Choosing a primary school starts with two questions: does it suit your child, and is obtaining a place realistic? An attractive building, an old Outstanding judgement and a neighbour's review only cover part of the decision. Compare several schools in a short, consistent table.

Check admission prospects first

Read the school's admissions arrangements for the relevant year: age, distance, siblings, faith criteria and supplementary forms. Rules differ. Living nearby does not guarantee a place, and attending a linked nursery does not replace an application. Apply to state schools through the relevant council procedure; independent schools take direct applications. GOV.UK: admission criteria ↗, GOV.UK: applications ↗.

Read the inspection date and findings

Use the official Ofsted report finder ↗ with the name or postcode. Check the date, exact institution and recent changes. New report cards grade separate areas, including inclusion and attendance, with safeguarding reported separately. Old overall judgements cannot be directly compared with the new grading scale. Ofsted: understanding report cards ↗.

Pick two or three findings and ask what the school is doing about them now. An older inspection describes a previous visit; it cannot by itself explain a new leadership team's approach or the support your child would receive.

Combine educational data with a visit

Compare available measures through the official DfE school comparison service ↗. Check the data year and meaning of each measure rather than relying on an unofficial league-table position. A cohort's results do not promise the same outcome for your child.

At an open day, ask about reading, maths, behaviour, bullying, EAL for children learning English and the SENCo where additional needs are relevant. Ask staff to describe a normal day and how parents communicate with teachers. Notice whether they can explain specific support as well as presenting the school.

Calculate daily logistics

Try the morning journey and check breakfast club, after-school care, meals and operating days. Obtain separate prices for additional services. A state-school place is free; independent schools have their own fees and contracts. GOV.UK: types of school ↗.

For a faith school, discuss educational and religious practice; for an international school, check the curriculum and future transfer options. The language used in marketing is insufficient: age range, curriculum and support matter.

Record reasons for your preferences and identify alternatives. English Ofsted and DfE services do not replace the inspection systems elsewhere in the UK. Checked on 7 October 2026.