Schools by area › Lewisham › John Ball Primary School
John Ball Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 2–11 · Community school
Southvale Road, Blackheath, London SE3 0TP · johnball.lewisham.sch.uk · 020 8852 1601
Overview
- Ofsted
- Outstanding
- 2019 framework · inspected May 2024
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 71%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Lewisham 68%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- 0.63 mi
- 1.01 km · Reception, September 2026 entry · Lewisham Council
- Demand for places
- 1.5
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 672
- 98% of 684 places
- Local authority
- Lewisham
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 11.3%
- First language not English
- 31.7%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 0.63 mi (1.01 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 0.66 mi (1.07 km). Source: Lewisham Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 138 families put the school first and 91 places were offered; 62% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 91 | 138 | 1.5▲ | 62% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 90 | 111 | 1.2▲ | 72% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 89 | 103 | 1.2▲ | 76% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 90 | 101 | 1.1▲ | 75% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 90 | 91 | 1▲ | 89% |
Last distance offered
| Reception | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 0.63 mi1.01 km | |
| September 2025 | 0.66 mi1.07 km | |
| September 2024 | 0.76 mi1.23 km | |
| September 2023 | 0.79 mi1.28 km | |
Results
In 2024/25, 71% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 6% the higher standard. Across Lewisham it was 68%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲71% | 62% | ||
| ●6% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▲109 | 106 | ||
| ●106 | 105 | ||
| ●107 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
John Ball Primary School was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 8 May 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Outstanding
- Inspected
- 8 May 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Nov 2013
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Nov 2013Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Jun 2008Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Good
What parents said
96% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (166 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 96%
- Replies
- 166
- 26% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 74% who raised concerns
based on the 34% who had a child bullied
based on 32 parents (19%) with SEND