In short: Most primary schools here are rated Good or better, about the same as across England. Results at 11 are above England, and results at 16 were close to England in 2026. Attendance is close to the England figure.
Waltham Forest at a glance
Ahead of England on results at 11
How Waltham Forest's schools compare with England, area by area.
Schools and nurseries17951 primary · 15 secondary · 98 nurseries
Primaries Good or better98%England 96%
Met the standard at 1174%England 62%
Grade 5 in English and maths48%Attainment 8 46.9, England 46.2
Free school meals, primary24%A sign of family income
Missed a lot of school19%England 18%
Top-rated
The highest-rated schools in Waltham Forest
Primary and secondary schools are ranked by Eduscope score, which weighs up results, inspections, attendance and more. Nurseries, special and independent schools aren't ranked. A high score isn't everything: always visit.
Apply through the council where you live, even for a school in another council's area. Independent schools take applications directly.
About Waltham Forest
Waltham Forest is a London borough with 51 mainstream primary schools and 15 mainstream secondary schools. Pupil numbers have fallen 4% since 2018.
Good to know in Waltham Forest
Waltham Forest parents can name up to six primary schools; naming only one or two risks being offered a vacancy at a school that may not be close to home. Source
Some church primary schools also need a Supplementary Information Form or Certificate of Catholic Practice, sent directly to the school; without it your child may not be offered a place. Source
Children in Year 2 at Chapel End Infant School, St Joseph's Infant School or an infant school outside Waltham Forest must apply through eAdmissions for a Year 3 junior place. Source
If none of your preferences can be offered, you are allocated a school with a vacancy nearest your home. Source
After offers are made, the council shows which schools are full, with their cut-off distances. Source
Children under 11 can travel free on London transport with a Zip Oyster photocard. Source
From Waltham Forest council's website, checked 7 November 2026. Check the council's pages before you apply.
If a date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, offers go out the next working day.
90.6%got their first-choice primary school in Waltham Forest in 2026. England: 92.4%. Ranked 110 of 151 councils. 97.8% got one of their top three.3.4% were offered a primary school in another council. England: 3.6%.
79.5%got their first-choice secondary school in Waltham Forest in 2026. England: 83.6%. Ranked 101 of 151 councils. 94.5% got one of their top three.13.6% were offered a secondary school in another council. England: 8.0%.
Source: DfE applications and offers, 2026. A low rate shows high demand, not poor schools.
6 of 40 primary appeals heard in Waltham Forest succeeded in 2025. 5 of 49 secondary appeals heard in Waltham Forest succeeded in 2025.
For schools that follow the council's dates. Academies, faith and foundation schools can set their own, and schools add training days. Source, checked 6 November 2026.
Inspections, exam results and attendance, next to the figure for England where we have it.
Numbers that sum up Waltham Forest
Waltham ForestEngland
Primaries rated Good or Outstanding
Latest Ofsted grade, 43 primaries with one.
98%
England 96%
Close to England
Secondaries rated Good or Outstanding
12 of the 12 with a grade.
100%
England 93%
Above England
Met the expected standard at 11
Reading, writing and maths.
74%
England 62%
Above England
Grade 5 or above in English and maths
At GCSE.
48%
Pupils who miss a lot of school
Missed 1 in 10 days or more. Lower is better.
19%
England 18%
Close to England
Primary pupils on free school meals
A sign of family income, not of school quality.
24%
Ofsted grades
Latest graded inspection for the 64 schools that have one.
98%
Good or Outstanding
Outstanding15
Good48
Requires improvement1
Inadequate0
How it has changed
Waltham Forest in blue. There were no tests in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid.
Met the expected standard at 1174% in 2025. England now 62% (dashed line).Grade 5 or above in English and maths48% in 2026.Pupils who miss a lot of school19% in 2025. England now 18% (dashed line).
The figures in full
The latest published year for each measure. Sources and years are on our data sources page.
Measure
Waltham Forest
England
Good or Outstanding (Ofsted)
98%
95%
Met the expected standard at 11 (KS2)
74%
62%
Attainment 8
46.9
46.2
Persistent absence
19%
18%
Pupils per teacher
18.0:1
17.9:1
Spending per pupil
£9,375
£8,120
In education or work after 16
93%
91%
Went on to higher education
57%
56%
Pupils with special educational needs
20%
21%
Pupils with English as an additional language
40%
22%
Pupils on free school meals
26%
27%
DfE local authority code 320, ONS code E09000031.
Living here
What it's like for families
Waltham Forest has 179 schools and nurseries.
There are 4% fewer pupils than in 2018.
24% of primary pupils here get free school meals. Schools get extra money for each of them.
Pupil numbers
Pupils in Waltham Forest's state schools each January.
42.7k2018
43.0k2019
42.5k2021
42.6k2022
42.6k2023
42.4k2024
41.8k2025
41.1k2026
Down 4% since 2018.
Free school meals
Out of every 10 primary pupils, how many get free school meals. It's a sign of family income, not of school quality.
Waltham Forest24%
Keep up with schools in Waltham Forest
Follow any school and we'll email you when it gets a new Ofsted report or new results are out. Nothing else.
Waltham Forest has 179 schools, including 60 primary schools, 27 secondary schools, 98 nurseries, 5 independent schools, 4 special schools. Some count in more than one group. You can browse each category using the filters on Eduscope.
What are the best schools in Waltham Forest?+
The highest-ranked schools in Waltham Forest on Eduscope are St Mary's CofE Primary School, St Saviour's Church of England Primary School, Walthamstow School for Girls. We rank each state school against schools of the same phase across England on its Ofsted inspection, results and attendance. Independent, special and nursery schools aren't ranked.
What percentage of schools in Waltham Forest are rated Good or Outstanding?+
98% of inspected schools in Waltham Forest hold a Good or Outstanding Ofsted rating, which is above the England average of 94.8%. This includes 15 schools rated Outstanding and 48 rated Good.
How do primary schools in Waltham Forest perform at Key Stage 2?+
Across primary schools in Waltham Forest, 74% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths at Key Stage 2. This is based on the latest published results from the Department for Education.
What is the average pupil-teacher ratio in Waltham Forest?+
The average pupil-teacher ratio across schools in Waltham Forest is 18.0:1. While not a direct measure of class size, this indicates the level of teaching resource available per pupil. Across England it is 17.9:1.
What is the persistent absence rate in Waltham Forest schools?+
The persistent absence rate across schools in Waltham Forest is 18.5%. A pupil is classed as persistently absent if they miss 10% or more of school sessions. Across England it is 18.1%.
How many pupils attend schools in Waltham Forest?+
There are 41,103 pupils enrolled across schools in Waltham Forest, with 23,553 in primary and 17,266 in secondary. 26.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.
How many private schools are in Waltham Forest?+
There are 5 independent schools in Waltham Forest. Fees vary by school and age group, with day school fees typically ranging from £10,000 to £20,000 per year. You can compare all private schools in Waltham Forest on Eduscope, including ISI inspection ratings where available.
How do I choose the right school in Waltham Forest?+
Start by considering your child's age, your location, and whether you prefer a state or independent school. Use Eduscope to compare 179 schools in Waltham Forest by Ofsted ratings, exam results, and distance. Filter by school type, gender, religious character, and admissions policy to narrow your options.
Sources: DfE school performance tables, DfE school census and workforce, DfE pupil absence, Ofsted. Photos are stand-ins.
