Grasmere Primary School Review 2026: Close-Knit Community Where Every Child is Known

Grasmere Primary School is a one-form-entry community primary in Stoke Newington, where first names are the norm and every member of staff knows every child. Operating within the LEAP (Learning, Arts and Education Partnership) Federation since its inception, this small, family-style school serves 30 children per year group from nursery (age 3) through Year 6 (age 11). Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2022, Grasmere combines a creative, broad curriculum with a strong emphasis on nurturing curiosity and individual potential. The school achieved 72% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2 in recent results, placing it above the national average of 62%, and notably 100% of pupils met the expected standard in science. Despite its modest size and capacity of 236 pupils, Grasmere is heavily oversubscribed, with around 185 applications competing for just 29 Reception places, and the furthest distance offered in recent admissions was only 0.236 miles.

Grasmere Primary School's identity rests on kindness, respect, and a shared commitment to provide exciting learning opportunities in an intimate setting. As a state-maintained community school with no religious affiliation, it serves a diverse neighbourhood in Hackney with an inclusive, secular ethos. The first-name culture extends to all adults and children, fostering an atmosphere that parents and inspectors alike describe as warm and familial. Staff know each child individually, and the sense of community permeates daily life.

As part of the LEAP Federation, Grasmere collaborates with a network of like-minded schools to share expertise and resources while preserving its distinct character. The federation structure provides stability and professional development for staff, and pupils benefit from enrichment programmes and specialist teaching that would be challenging for a single-form-entry school to sustain alone. Leadership under interim headteacher Ms Karen Pedro, who joined in September 2024 following the departure of Neela Moorghen, continues to prioritise high-quality education, pupil well-being, and a broad curriculum that nurtures creativity in all its forms.

Ofsted's 2022 inspection highlighted the strong sense of community, noting that pupils form supportive friendships and demonstrate politeness, confidence and maturity. Behaviour is commendable, with older pupils trained as peer mediators to resolve minor playground disputes. The school's emphasis on respect and equality is embedded in everyday interactions, and children actively participate in their learning with enthusiasm. Parents value the welcoming environment and the approachable staff, and the school's compact size ensures no child is overlooked.

Grasmere Primary delivers the LEAP Empowerment Curriculum, a distinctive framework designed to encourage critical thinking, pupil voice and leadership development. The curriculum is creative and diverse, with clear expectations for knowledge acquisition at each year level and a coherent progression across subjects. Inspectors found that curriculum design under the leadership of the headteacher and subject leaders is well-structured, allowing pupils to build systematically on prior learning.

In the most recent Key Stage 2 assessments, 72.3% of Grasmere pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the national average of 62%. The school's average scaled scores were 103 in reading and maths, and 102 in grammar, punctuation and spelling, all comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. A notable 22.3% of pupils achieved the high standard across reading, writing and maths, nearly three times the national average of 8%. In science, 100% of pupils met the expected standard, significantly outperforming the national figure of 82%. In granular terms, 71% reached the expected standard in reading (high score: 17%), 71% in maths (high score: 21%), 58% in GPS (high score: 21%), and 29% achieved greater depth in writing.

Reading is a particular strength. Pupils display a strong passion for books, engage daily with storytime, and read widely and confidently across a range of authors. Inspectors noted fluency and comprehension skills are well-developed, and the school's consistent focus on literacy is evident in outcomes. The school acknowledges areas for refinement, including ensuring foundational knowledge in the early years fully prepares children for Year 1, and providing more opportunities for pupils to practise mathematical skills across the wider curriculum. Leadership is addressing these gaps as part of ongoing improvement planning.

Grasmere is highly inclusive, with excellent provision for children with additional needs. The school supports pupils with a range of special educational needs and disabilities, and staff work closely with families and external specialists to tailor support. The intimate scale of the school means individual learning plans can be monitored closely, and pupils are known well enough that early intervention is the norm. Nursery provision (both full-time and part-time) supports children from age three, offering a smooth transition into Reception and establishing early routines that underpin later success.

Grasmere's compact site at 92 Albion Road includes spacious outdoor play areas where children can run, play and participate in a variety of structured and unstructured activities. The school has a library, a Key Stage 1 climbing frame, and access to specialist spaces for art and music, supported by specialist teachers. Outdoor learning is central to the school's offer, with Forest School programmes at LEAP providing hands-on, nature-based education that complements classroom learning.

Extracurricular provision is diverse for a small school, with enrichment clubs running daily before and after school. Options include Spanish, martial arts, fencing, cricket, music, writing, art, coding, skateboarding, and girls' football. Pupils participate enthusiastically in choir, with regular performances that build confidence and celebrate musical talent. Wraparound care includes a breakfast club and afterschool club, providing flexibility for working families.

The school's sports programme is strong and ambitious, funded in part by the primary sports premium. Lessons cover athletics, sailing, kayaking, tag rugby, swimming, gymnastics, hockey, tennis, cricket and football. Reception to Year 6 pupils receive swimming, cricket and tennis tuition, while Years 5 and 6 enjoy sailing and kayaking. Grasmere competes successfully in local and national championships, recently achieving Hackney Champions status in boys' and girls' cricket and reaching the National Semi-Finals. This competitive success, combined with broad participation, reflects the school's commitment to physical education and wellbeing.

Cultural events are celebrated actively. Recent highlights include an International Evening showcasing the community's diversity, Spanish ambassador theatrical trips, and Year 6 secondary transition workshops. The school's size allows every child to take part in performances, trips and leadership roles, fostering a strong sense of belonging and agency.

Grasmere Primary School is a Hackney local authority community school, and admissions for Reception places are coordinated by the local authority. The school admits 30 children each September to Reception, with nursery places available for three- and four-year-olds. The oversubscription criteria follow Hackney's standard community school model, typically prioritising looked-after children, children with exceptional social or medical need, siblings, and then distance from the school.

Competition for places is intense. In the most recent admissions round, 185 families applied for the 29 offered Reception places, yielding a subscription ratio of 6.38:1. The furthest distance offered was just 0.236 miles (approximately 380 metres), underlining the hyper-local nature of the catchment. Families living beyond a quarter-mile radius face minimal realistic prospects of securing a place unless they qualify under priority criteria. The school is formally classified as oversubscribed, with first-preference applicants competing heavily: the proportion of first preferences to first-preference offers stands at 1.75, meaning many families ranking Grasmere as their top choice do not receive an offer.

Proximity is decisive. Given the 0.236-mile threshold, families should measure straight-line distance from their home to the school gate carefully, using Hackney's official admissions distance calculator or mapping tools. Sibling priority remains significant, and families with an older child already at Grasmere have a substantial advantage. For those without a sibling link, living within a few hundred metres is typically essential. The school's small size and strong local reputation mean catchment distances fluctuate minimally year-on-year, remaining tightly constrained.

Applications for Reception 2026 entry opened in autumn 2025 via Hackney's coordinated admissions portal, with the deadline typically in mid-January 2026 and national offer day on 16 April 2026. Nursery admissions operate on a separate timetable; parents interested in nursery places should contact the school directly in the autumn before their child turns three. Families are strongly advised to visit the school, review the published admissions arrangements on the Hackney Education website, and consider multiple schools within a realistic distance when completing the common application form.

Grasmere Primary School is a Good school in the fullest sense: academically strong, pastorally attentive, and rooted in a genuine culture of kindness and respect. It delivers results well above national averages in a creative, inclusive environment where every child is known by name and supported as an individual. The LEAP Federation provides a robust framework for curriculum development and enrichment, and the school punches above its weight in sports, arts and extracurricular breadth despite its modest single-form-entry scale.

The trade-offs are inherent to size and location. With just 30 places per year, the school cannot offer the social scale or specialist facilities of larger primaries, and the fiercely competitive admissions reality means only families living within a quarter-mile stand a realistic chance without sibling priority. The intimate atmosphere that parents cherish can feel insular, and children may have fewer opportunities to form friendship groups beyond their immediate class. Leadership transitions, such as the recent appointment of an interim headteacher, require careful management in a small school where stability and continuity matter acutely.

For families fortunate enough to live within the tight catchment, Grasmere offers an exceptional community primary where academic rigour, creative teaching and pastoral warmth combine. Children leave articulate, confident and well-prepared for secondary school, with a strong foundation in literacy, a love of reading, and experience of sailing, kayaking, Forest School and competitive sport that many larger schools struggle to match. If you can secure a place, you are gaining access to a school that truly knows and nurtures every child it serves.

Is Grasmere Primary School a good school?

Yes. Grasmere Primary School is rated Good by Ofsted (March 2022) and delivers academic results well above national averages. In recent Key Stage 2 assessments, 72% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined (national average: 62%), with 22% achieving the high standard (national average: 8%). The school excels in reading and science, and provides strong pastoral support in an inclusive, family-style environment. It is highly regarded locally, reflected in heavy oversubscription and a tight 0.236-mile admissions catchment.

How do I apply to Grasmere Primary School?

For Reception places (starting age 4), apply via Hackney Council's coordinated primary admissions scheme. The application window typically opens in autumn for the following September entry, with a mid-January deadline and national offer day on 16 April. You must complete Hackney's common application form online, ranking up to six schools in preference order. Grasmere is a community school, so admissions criteria prioritise looked-after children, exceptional need, siblings, and proximity. Given the 0.236-mile furthest distance offered, living very close to the school is essential unless you have sibling priority. For nursery (age 3+), contact the school directly on 020 7254 4564 or via info@grasmere.hackney.sch.uk. Visit www.grasmere.hackney.sch.uk and the Hackney Education website for current arrangements and key dates.

What are the admissions criteria for Grasmere Primary School?

Grasmere follows Hackney's community school admissions policy. When oversubscribed, places are allocated in the following priority order: (1) looked-after and previously looked-after children; (2) children with exceptional and professionally evidenced social or medical need for the specific school; (3) siblings of children already attending the school; (4) remaining places by straight-line distance from home to school, with those living nearest offered first. Distance is the determining factor for most applicants. In recent years, the furthest distance offered was 0.236 miles, meaning families must live within a very short walk of the school to have a realistic chance without sibling priority. Check Hackney's published admissions arrangements each year for the most current criteria and tiebreaker rules.

What extracurricular activities does Grasmere Primary School offer?

Grasmere provides a wide range of clubs and activities before and after school, including Spanish, martial arts, fencing, cricket, music, writing, art, coding, skateboarding, girls' football and choir. Sports provision is particularly strong, with lessons and competitions in athletics, sailing, kayaking, tag rugby, swimming, gymnastics, hockey, tennis, cricket and football. The school achieved Hackney Champions in boys' and girls' cricket and reached National Semi-Finals. All pupils from Reception to Year 6 receive swimming, cricket and tennis tuition, and Years 5 and 6 participate in sailing and kayaking. Forest School programmes at LEAP offer outdoor, nature-based learning. The school also runs a breakfast club and afterschool club for wraparound care.

Does Grasmere Primary School have a nursery?

Yes. Grasmere Primary School offers both full-time and part-time nursery provision for children from age three. The nursery operates as part of the school, providing early years education and a smooth transition into Reception. Places are allocated separately from Reception admissions; parents should contact the school directly to enquire about availability and apply. Early registration is advisable, as nursery places are popular and attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place (Reception admissions are coordinated by Hackney Council and subject to the standard oversubscription criteria). Visit the school's website or phone 020 7254 4564 for nursery admissions timelines and registration details.