“Imagine school toilets being a place to learn.” That’s not something you hear every day is it? Yet here at Earlham Primary School that is exactly what has happened.
Earlham Primary School stands on Earlham Grove in Forest Gate London. It serves children aged 3 to 11. The school is an academy converter within the EKO TRUST. Earlham Primary School converted to an academy on 1 October 2017.
Let’s talk about those toilets. The original 1950s building had over-generous toilet spaces. The school cleverly redesigned these spaces. They created new toilets for boys and girls with a shared access and communal basin. A former toilet space became a new classroom. This new classroom supports peripatetic teaching.
Every toilet detail is both informative and practical. A large diagram covers the entrance walls. It explains how the toilets work. Pupils can monitor water and electricity use with readouts. Toilet cubicles display woodland and London images. These images reflect Forest Gate’s history as the entrance to royal hunting forests. Central London sights represent places many pupils haven’t yet visited.
Dorothea Schulz from Newham Council praised the toilet renovations. She said they were wonderful inspiring and aesthetically beautiful. She stated that the project made a tangible difference to the children at Earlham. It’s not just about toilets is it?
Earlham Primary School has a capacity of 420 pupils. In 2023 it had 463 pupils. A significant percentage of pupils are eligible for free school meals. In January 2025 38.4% of children were eligible. That equals 148 pupils.
The headteachers of Earlham Primary School are Ms Natalie Robinson and Mr Jacob Oudegeest. Deola Sulola chairs the local governing body. Several local governors support the school. These governors include Ransford Ashie Neelam Mohammad and Afridha Rahman.
Ofsted inspected Earlham Primary School on 6 June 2023. It received an outstanding rating. The quality of education behaviour and attitudes personal development leadership and management and early years provision were all outstanding.
Earlham Primary School is more than just a school. It is a place where innovative design meets education. It creates a stimulating and sustainable environment for its pupils. Earlham is setting an example for schools everywhere.