Concordia Academy Review 2026: Outstanding, purpose-built primary with strong KS2 outcomes

A relatively new school with a very mature feel, Concordia Academy combines a modern, purpose-built building with a tightly sequenced curriculum and clear routines. It is a three-form entry primary, opened in September 2016 and established on its permanent Union Road site from September 2018, created to meet local demand for places in Havering.

Academic outcomes are a major strength. In 2024, 83.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. Entry is competitive, with 249 Reception applications for 87 offers in the most recent admissions cycle recorded here.

This is a school built for scale, and it matters. With capacity for 630 pupils, Concordia is designed to operate smoothly as a large primary while still keeping daily routines legible for children and parents. The story of the site adds a distinctive local thread. The permanent school grounds formerly housed Oldchurch Hospital, with roots that stretch back to an infirmary linked to the Romford Union Workhouse in 1893, later becoming Oldchurch County Hospital, joining the NHS in 1948, and closing in December 2006. That historic footprint, and the shift from derelict hospital land to a modern school building, gives the school an unusually clear sense of “new beginnings” for an urban primary.

Leadership is also a steadying constant. Mr Raheel Akhtar is the headteacher, and governance records list his appointment date as 01 September 2016, aligning with the school’s opening year.

Day-to-day culture, as described in formal external review, centres on calm classrooms, very strong relationships, and high expectations for conduct. The most recent Ofsted inspection (03 to 04 June 2025) concluded that the school had taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.

A helpful practical marker for families is that the school explicitly positions itself as welcoming across backgrounds, and its own published values lean heavily into confidence, respect, responsibility, and equality alongside academic ambition.

Concordia’s KS2 profile in 2024 is notably strong, and it is not reliant on a single headline.

Combined expected standard (reading, writing and maths)

83.33% in 2024, compared with an England average of 62%.

Scaled scores

Reading 107 and maths 106, both comfortably above the England benchmark (100). Grammar, punctuation and spelling is another standout with an average scaled score of 109.

Higher standard

31% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 8%. That gap is meaningful because it suggests the school is moving a sizeable cohort beyond “secure” into genuinely strong attainment, rather than only focusing on borderline pupils.

On the FindMySchool ranking (based on official data), the school is ranked 2,769th in England and 12th in Havering for primary outcomes. That places it above England average, comfortably within the top 25% of primary schools in England.

Teaching and curriculum design appear to be highly structured, and this is where Concordia differentiates itself from many large primaries. Curriculum sequencing is described with precision from Reception to Year 6, with a clear focus on cumulative knowledge and vocabulary, plus regular opportunities for pupils to revisit prior learning so it sticks.

A practical example is the way mathematics is taught, lessons routinely begin with recap before new content is introduced, which supports fluency and reduces the likelihood that pupils carry gaps forward. Reading is treated as a whole-school priority, with consistent staff training in the chosen phonics approach and close matching of books to the sounds pupils know. When pupils struggle, intervention is designed to happen quickly rather than waiting for problems to compound.

For parents, the implication is straightforward. Children who respond well to clear routines, well-defined explanations, and frequent checking for understanding are likely to settle quickly and make fast progress. Pupils who need additional scaffolding, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, are described as being identified early with teaching adapted to remove barriers.

As a state primary, the key transition point is into Year 7. Most families will apply through Havering’s coordinated secondary admissions process during Year 6, then list preferences for local secondary schools.

Havering’s published timeline for September 2026 secondary entry illustrates the rhythm families can expect each year. Applications opened on 01 September 2025, closed on 31 October 2025, with offers released on 02 March 2026.

The school’s curriculum emphasis on reading fluency, structured maths, and carefully built knowledge should translate well into the demands of secondary learning, especially for children moving into a more subject-led timetable. The 2025 inspection commentary explicitly notes that by the end of Year 6, pupils are well prepared for secondary school expectations.

Reception entry is coordinated through Havering, and demand is high. The most recent admissions cycle here records 249 applications for 87 offers, which equates to about 2.86 applications per place. That level of pressure means families should treat this as a realistic reach option unless they understand how the published oversubscription criteria may apply to their circumstances.

For September 2026 Reception entry (children born between 01 September 2021 and 31 August 2022), Havering’s key dates are clear: applications opened on 01 September 2025, the closing date was 15 January 2026, and offer day was the evening of 16 April 2026.

Open events appear to follow a predictable annual pattern. The school calendar for 2025 to 2026 lists open days for prospective new pupils in late September and mid-October, which is consistent with many London primaries. Families should still rely on the school’s current calendar for the latest dates and booking arrangements.

A practical tip: if you are using distance as part of your shortlist logic across Havering, it is worth using FindMySchoolMap Search to check your precise home-to-gate distance for each preferred option, then compare it with the most recently published offer patterns from the local authority, because competition can shift year to year.

Pastoral practice here looks intentionally “front-loaded”, prevent small issues becoming bigger ones. One example is the school’s participation in Operation Encompass, a partnership approach designed to ensure timely, appropriate support for pupils who may have experienced domestic abuse incidents in the household. That is a specific, operational safeguarding commitment rather than a generic statement of intent.

The 2025 inspection notes pupils feel safe and describes behaviour as calm, orderly, and free from disruption, with bullying described as rare and handled swiftly when it occurs. Ofsted also confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Attendance is another wellbeing indicator with practical importance. Leaders are described as working closely with families to reduce barriers that affect attendance and punctuality, with improvement noted. For parents, this tends to correlate with a school that is organised about routines, communication, and follow-up, particularly valuable in a large setting.

A large primary can either feel anonymous after 3:30pm or genuinely busy, and Concordia appears to land in the second camp.

The school’s wider experience programme, as reflected in formal review, includes curriculum-linked visits and trips such as London museums and theatres, plus community-facing activity such as performing for residents of a local care home. The implication is that enrichment is used to reinforce classroom learning and build confidence, not just to add entertainment.

Clubs are also more specific than a generic “sports and arts” offer. Current published club schedules include KS2 Choir, Lego Club, Table Tennis, and Arts & Crafts Club, alongside options such as dance and multi-sports.

For families weighing fit, the key question is how your child recharges. Children who thrive on structured activity and enjoy having something to join each week will likely find plenty to do. If your child needs downtime after a long school day, you may want to be selective about commitments and prioritise one club at a time.

The school day starts at 8:40am, with staggered dismissal windows from 3:15pm through to 3:45pm depending on year group.

Wraparound care is available on site via an external provider, with published operating hours of 7:00am to 8:40am and 3:00pm to 6:30pm.

Parking constraints are worth planning for, information published by the school indicates no parking availability for visitors on site, so families should think ahead about walking routes and safe drop-off alternatives.

• Competition for places. With 249 applications for 87 offers in the latest cycle recorded here, entry is pressured. Families should build a balanced list of preferences rather than relying on this as the only viable option.

• Large-school dynamics. Capacity is 630, which brings breadth of friendship groups and extensive staffing, but it can feel busy at the gate. If your child finds crowds challenging, it is worth asking how arrivals, transitions, and pastoral check-ins are structured.

• Structured approach suits many, not all. The curriculum is intentionally sequenced and routines are clear. That often benefits pupils who like predictability; children who prefer very open-ended learning may take time to adjust.

• Wraparound is third-party. Before and after-school care is on site but run by an external provider. That is fine for many families, but you may want to understand booking, staffing continuity, and how information flows between club and school.

Concordia Academy stands out as a high-performing, well-organised state primary, with an Outstanding status maintained at the latest inspection point and a strong KS2 profile that outpaces England averages. It pairs the advantages of a purpose-built modern site with clear curriculum thinking, plus a club programme that goes beyond the basics.

Who it suits: families seeking a structured, academically focused primary with calm routines, strong reading and maths outcomes, and plenty of optional enrichment, especially those prepared for competitive admissions.