SchoolScoresBen Jonson Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Harford Street, Stepney, London, E1 4PZ
020 7790 4110 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 20 February 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
53 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Tower Hamlets comparisons use the 26 of its 66 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 40 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Tower Hamlets | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 19th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 21% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 92% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 19th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 19% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 92% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 18th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 29% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 89% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 28 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 72% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64% | 54% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 43 parents who had raised a concern 19th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 19% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 70% | 78% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 23rd highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 10% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Tower Hamlets figures pool parents at the Tower Hamlets schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
83 pupils in this year group.
72% — 3 points above the Tower Hamlets average, and 10 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Tower Hamlets | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 72% | 69% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 18% | 12% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 87% | 80% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 81% | 77% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 84% | 81% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 107 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 107 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Tower Hamlets. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 51 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 49 |
| Of those, offered a place | 49 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 83 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Tower Hamlets | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 24th highest of 66 state primary schools in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 88% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 47.2% | 44.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 14th highest of 66 state primary schools in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 95% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.4% | 6.5%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 43rd highest of 66 state primary schools in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 28% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.3% | 15.5%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 55th highest of 66 state primary schools in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 81% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 34.9% | 65.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 24th lowest of 66 state primary schools in Tower Hamlets. Lower than 35% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.6% | 6.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 24th lowest of 66 state primary schools in Tower Hamlets. Lower than 32% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.1% | 17.8%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 32nd lowest of 66 state primary schools in Tower Hamlets. Lower than 66% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3 | 1.1 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 36th lowest of 66 state primary schools in Tower Hamlets. Lower than 64% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3% | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 28th highest of 66 state primary schools in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 28% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.6 | 18.4 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 57th highest of 66 state primary schools in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 7% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 7.6 | 9.2 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 6th highest of 65 state primary schools in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 94% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 35.3% | 17.0%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Solebay Primary - A Paradigm Academy 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Halley Primary School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cayley Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Paul With St Luke CofE Primary Federation 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sir William Burrough Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stepney Greencoat CofE Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stepney Park Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Marion Richardson Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- John Scurr Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Malmesbury Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Ben Jonson Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ben Jonson Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 20 February 2024.
How did Ben Jonson Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 72% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 10 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Ben Jonson Primary School?
72% of the 53 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Ben Jonson Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Ben Jonson Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 49 families put Ben Jonson Primary School as their first choice for 51 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 49 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 100890.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.