Thomas Fairchild Community School
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Thomas Fairchild Community School is a council school in London for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 210 pupils and room for 240. About 70 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 59 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 63% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2023.
Forston Street, Hoxton, London, N1 7HA020 7253 9469thomasfairchild.hackney.sch.ukMiss Sophie Medhurst executive headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 26 September 2023, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Good overall.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
29 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | Hackney | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 29 | 29 | 30 | 56 | 50 | 54 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 79% | 76% | 60% | 59% | 62% | 43% | 76% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 14% | 10% | 7% | 8% | 0% | 15% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 108.0 | 105.0 | 103.0 | 101.0 | 101.0 | 101.0 | 107.1 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 105.0 | 105.0 | 105.0 | 102.0 | 102.0 | 101.0 | 105.8 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 103.0 | 105.0 | 106.0 | 103.0 | 102.0 | 104.0 | 106.8 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 86% | 79% | 63% | 64% | 68% | 61% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 83% | 79% | 83% | 73% | 66% | 56% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 79% | 76% | 73% | 79% | 74% | 78% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | -2.1 | -1.6 | -4.1 | -4.7 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | +0.8 | -1.8 | -2.9 | -4.0 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | – | 78% | 56% | 51% | 63% | 34% | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | – | 73% | 67% | 80% | 61% | 63% | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
Does every child do well here?
A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 1 of the 2 gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.
At the end of primary school, 2025
Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published.
239 places were empty (55% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 4% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.
Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Hackney council's admissions booklet, send it to us.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Specialist SEND provision. Resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) with 10 pupils, for speech, language and communication.
To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in Hackney with speech, language and communication provision.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 27.0 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 27.0 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: language and communications needs (37), Autistic spectrum disorder (14), emotional and mental health (13), Other difficulty or disability (10), Physical disability (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 210 | 220 | 222 | 206 | 236 | 256 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 69% | 70% | 62% | 57% | 53% | 49% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 52% | 52% | 53% | 60% | 60% | 57% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 25% | 26% | 26% | 25% | 12% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 10% | 6% | 6% | 8% | 8% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 92.6% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 7.5% | 6.4% | 6.6% | 7.0% | 6.2% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 5.0% | 4.6% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 2.7% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 2.5% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.9% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 23.8% | 21.4% | 23.0% | 24.2% | 20.5% | 12.4% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 3.6 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Staff
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoreditch Park Primary School | Council | 430 m | 441 | Outstanding 2024 | 86 | Compare |
| Hanover Primary School | Council | 510 m | 244 | Good 2024 | 65 | Compare |
| St John the Baptist Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 550 m | 239 | Outstanding 2023 | 85 | Compare |
| Rotherfield Primary School | Council | 610 m | 331 | Good 2023 | 33 | Compare |
| Hoxton Garden Primary | Council | 710 m | 344 | Not inspected | 96 | Compare |
| St Luke's CofE Primary School | Church of England | 730 m | 208 | Good 2023 | 48 | Compare |
| Moreland Primary School | Council | 770 m | 469 | Not inspected | 15 | Compare |
| The New North Academy | Academy | 780 m | 116 | Good 2021 | 11 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Thomas Fairchild Community School with the 49 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 49 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 49 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Thomas Fairchild Community School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St John the Baptist Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 550 m | 239 | Outstanding 2023 | 85 | Compare |
| Gainsborough Primary School | Academy | 4.2 miles | 198 | No overall grade 2025 | 78 | Compare |
| St Mary's Kilburn Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 4.4 miles | 217 | Outstanding 2023 | 95 | Compare |
| Westbridge Academy | Academy | 5.2 miles | 169 | Good 2022 | 66 | Compare |
| Normand Croft Community School for Early Years and Primary Education | Council | 5.9 miles | 225 | Not inspected | 83 | Compare |
| Benedict Academy | Academy | 9.8 miles | 177 | No overall grade 2024 | 99 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 59 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 59% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 34 to 79. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | in line | +0.02 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 29 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | in line | +0.01 | Ofsted grade, 3.0 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | in line | -0.04 | DfE progress measure; 29 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | above | +0.08 | results and attendance rising year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | well below | -0.15 | 2024/25; 168 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | well above | +0.18 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 29 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Thomas Fairchild Community School a good school?
It is about average. Thomas Fairchild Community School scores 59 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 63% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 34 to 79, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.
What is Thomas Fairchild Community School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Thomas Fairchild Community School good at its last full inspection on 26 September 2023.
How good are Thomas Fairchild Community School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 79% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 0% went further and reached the higher level.
How many pupils does Thomas Fairchild Community School have?
210 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 240 places, so it is 88% full.
Is Thomas Fairchild Community School oversubscribed?
Probably not. 239 places were empty in 2024/25 (55% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Thomas Fairchild Community School?
Pupils were in school 92.6% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 24% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Thomas Fairchild Community School?
The average class had 25.8 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.
Does Thomas Fairchild Community School have specialist SEND provision?
Yes. It has resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) for speech, language and communication. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.
Does Thomas Fairchild Community School have a breakfast club?
Yes. It is on the government's free breakfast club programme, so every pupil can have a free half-hour breakfast club before school.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Forston Street, Hoxton, London, N1 7HA
- Telephone
- 020 7253 9469
- Website
- www.thomasfairchild.hackney.sch.uk
- Executive Headteacher
- Miss Sophie Medhurst
- Free breakfast club
- Yes: on the government's programme, so every pupil can have a free half-hour breakfast club before school (listed since September 2026).
- Type of school
- Council school (Community school, local authority maintained schools)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
- Gender
- Mixed
- Local authority
- Hackney
- Ward
- Hoxton West
- Constituency
- Hackney South and Shoreditch
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- URN
- 100243 · LAESTAB 2042592 · UKPRN 10077176
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Breakfast club: DfE list of schools on the free breakfast club programme.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.