Primary school

John Ball Primary School

  • Community School
  • ages 2–11
  • Mixed
  • Lewisham
  • SE3 0TP

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The area around it

Results · 2024/25

Ranked 4,847 of 15,057 primaries in England · top 33%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 14%14%2016/17: top 7%7% · 2016/172017/18: top 24%2018/19: top 28%2022/23: top 45%2023/24: top 27%2024/25: top 33%No exams

Against LondonArrows: London rank change since 2018/19

Expected standard, RWM71% · London 72%5/10 Middle−13.3 pts
Higher standard, RWM6% · London 12%2/10 Well below London−56.8 pts
Reading score109 · London 1078/10 Above+36.5 pts
Maths score106 · London 1074/10 Below−15.6 pts
Show KS2 results by year

No exams 2019/20–21Not published 2021/22

Expected standard, RWM
2015/16: 74% · 87 pupils · London 61%2016/17: 85% · 60 pupils · London 69%2017/18: 77% · 86 pupils · London 72%2018/19: 75% · 59 pupils · London 73%2022/23: 63% · 72 pupils · London 68%2023/24: 71% · 79 pupils · London 70%2024/25: 71% · 87 pupils · London 72%85%63%No exams
Higher standard, RWM
2015/16: 18% · 87 pupils · London 7%2016/17: 27% · 60 pupils · London 10%2017/18: 28% · 86 pupils · London 12%2018/19: 19% · 59 pupils · London 13%2022/23: 13% · 72 pupils · London 11%2023/24: 19% · 79 pupils · London 11%2024/25: 6% · 87 pupils · London 12%28%6%No exams
Reading score
2015/16: 106 · 87 pupils · London 1032016/17: 110 · 60 pupils · London 1052017/18: 108 · 86 pupils · London 1062018/19: 105 · 59 pupils · London 1062022/23: 106 · 72 pupils · London 1062023/24: 108 · 79 pupils · London 1072024/25: 109 · 87 pupils · London 107110105No exams
Maths score
2015/16: 106 · 87 pupils · London 1042016/17: 107 · 60 pupils · London 1062017/18: 107 · 86 pupils · London 1062018/19: 107 · 59 pupils · London 1072022/23: 104 · 72 pupils · London 1062023/24: 107 · 79 pupils · London 1062024/25: 106 · 87 pupils · London 107107104No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in61.6%
85 of 138 who put it first2014 · 56.6%2026 · 61.6%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st13885
2nd936
3rd600
Last distance offered
  • 2026/271.0 km
  • 2025/261.1 km
  • 2024/251.2 km
  • 2023/241.3 km
  • 2020/21805 m
  • 2019/20809 m

Inspections · 2008–2024

  1. 2008Outstanding
  2. 2013Outstanding
  3. 2024Outstanding

5 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Early years provision
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

5 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Read what Ofsted said (3)

From Ofsted report, inspected May 2024

Strengths

  • “Leaders’ and staff’s vision ‘to nurture each child to reach their full potential’ comes to life at this school.”
  • “Pupils love their school and being part of the John Ball community.”
  • “This is reflected in their high attendance.”

Ofsted inspection report extracts, Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026672
Free school meals (past 6 years)12.3%
First language not English33.0%
SEN support14.1%
EHC plan2.8%
Absence (sessions missed)4.7%
Persistently absent pupils9.2%

Girls 45.2%Boys 54.8%

98.2% full · 684 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 168 responses (26.6% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school95.8% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school95.8% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved91.7% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 64.9% not applicable59.3% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year93.5% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 25.6% not applicable89.6% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed81.8% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child83.3% agree
  • My child does well at this school93.5% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing92.3% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school95.8% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school97.6% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development90.5% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent95.2% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher22.4
Pupils per adult11.5
  • Classroom teachers 26.2
  • Leadership 3.6
  • Teaching assistants 27.1
  • Other support 18

Teachers 29.8 FTE · Whole workforce 74.9 · 99 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£8,060
Spend per pupil£7,738
Staff spend per pupil£5,859
Reserve per pupil−£1,529
  • −£1,020,485revenue reserve
  • +£215,147in-year balance

Grants £6,912 · self-generated £1,148 · premises £343 per pupil