Ilford schools news
Ilford schools news, newest first: Ofsted reports, admissions, term dates and school achievements.
Top story
Redbridge SEND Strategy Approved: Primary EHCPs Up 60%
Cabinet approved Redbridge's SEND strategy on 22 October. Care plans for primary pupils are up 60% since 2022 and forecast to reach 2,351 by 2030.
More stories
Wanstead
Wanstead High School: New Builder on Site, No End Date
A new contractor took over the unfinished Wanstead High School block on 21 October, eight months after the last one collapsed. No name and no finish date yet.
Schools
Aldborough Primary Ofsted: Strong in All Seven Areas
Aldborough Primary in Seven Kings is graded Strong standard in all seven areas of its new-style Ofsted report card. Three more Redbridge primaries are out.
Schools
Redbridge Term Dates 2026-27: Christmas Break Starts 18 December
Redbridge February half term is 15 to 19 February 2027 and Easter runs 26 March to 9 April. Christmas starts 18 December, and Bancroft's breaks up earlier.
Half term
Ilford October Half Term 2026 (Past): 26 to 30 October
Redbridge half term is 26 to 30 October. The free Festival of the Dead parade leaves Ilford's Central Library at 5pm on the Friday; swim crash courses are £45.
Council
Redbridge Council This Week: 17 Objections in Goodmayes
A Goodmayes food hall's alcohol licence bid, opposed by 17 residents, is heard on 1 October. Schools Forum shares £230,500 for falling rolls that morning.
Wanstead
Wanstead School Petition: 2,179 Names Debated Tonight
Councillors debate the Wanstead High School and pool petition at 7pm tonight. Officers recommend they simply note it, and the pool still has no agreed design.
Schools
Redbridge Plans 330 Fewer School Intake Places by 2031
Redbridge wants 150 fewer Reception and 180 fewer Year 7 places as rolls fall. Closure is a last resort, but 23 of its 54 maintained schools ran a deficit.
Hainault
New Rush Hall School to Grow From 80 to 140 SEND Places
Redbridge's only SEMH special school has 103 pupils in 80 places. The council has approved a statutory notice to take it to 140 from September 2027.
Wanstead
Wanstead High School: No Contractor as Term Starts Thursday
Redbridge admits the collapsed contractor's work fell short, and apologises. Still no new contractor and no completion date. The petition has hit 1,156.
Wanstead
Wanstead Leisure Centre: 477 Sign as Pool Loses End Date
The council promised late 2025. A petition opened on 18 August has 477 signatures, and Redbridge has said nothing new since its contractor collapsed.
Schools
Avon House School Woodford Green closes, administrators in
Avon House School in Woodford Green shut on 7 August. Its Companies House record now reads In Administration: the new filings and the six charges still outstanding.