The way in which the education watchdog inspects and reports on findings at schools across the country was reformed in September last year.
Now the schools are rated across four inspection categories, with the single-word ratings abolished in the hope to accurately reflect school performance for parents.
This is how secondary and primary schools in the borough have performed in 2025 so far.
1. Towers Junior School
The latest report on this junior school in Windsor Road, Hornchurch, was published by Ofsted on January 13 following an overall effectiveness visit.
According to inspectors, pupils “thrive at this happy school”, benefiting from a safe environment, good relationships and a strong sense of community.
Towers Junior School supports “individuality, culture and respect for others” and has a wellbeing committee in place to address worries faced by pupils.
Ofsted gave feedback advising that “the school should ensure that assessment is used consistently to check understanding and to identify and address misconceptions” in pupils’ understanding.
2. Harold Wood Primary School
Inspectors published their report of the overall effectiveness of the school in Recreation Avenue, Harold Wood, on January 14.
The place of education was found to have “nurturing relationships” between staff and pupils and “high expectations for pupils’ behaviour”, which was observed by Ofsted to be “impeccable”.
The report said that “in a few subjects, the knowledge, vocabulary and skills pupils need to learn year-on- year is not mapped out effectively enough”.
Ofsted also advised that: “The school should ensure that teachers check pupils’ learning and respond to any gaps or misconceptions swiftly so that pupils achieve well in all subjects.”
3. Hilldene Primary School
The report following a visit to Hilldene Primary School in Grange Road, Harold Hill, was published on January 17.
Key judgements from the education watchdog revealed that quality of education, leadership and management, and early years provision ‘required improvement’.
Behaviour and attitudes and personal development at the school were observed to be ‘good’.
However, Ofsted reported on a struggle faced by some children to apply learning to more complex concepts, adding that “pupils are not as well prepared for the next stage of their education as they should be”.
The inspector stated: “Overall, the inconsistent implementation of the planned curriculum does not sufficiently support pupils to achieve well.”
4. Hornchurch High School
This secondary school in Broadstone Road, Hornchurch, was visited for an overall effectiveness visit with results published on April 7.
Ofsted found that pupils are motivated and have high aspirations for themselves, achieving well in a wide range of subjects.
There is “an effective behaviour policy” in place that is said to be well understood and “consistently implemented by all”.
Inspectors advised that at times pupils’ misconceptions are missed and teaching moves on “before pupils’ prior learning is secure”.
It was also recommended that the school ensures work is adapted appropriately to coincide with pupils’ starting points.
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5. Drapers’ Academy
This secondary school in Settle Road, Harold Hill was found to be ‘good’ across all inspection points in a report published on April 29.
Their feedback highlighted the need to address gaps in pupil knowledge before the teaching moves on, and to ensure work is being checked and is of high enough quality to prove understanding.
