Finham Primary School Review 2026: High KS2 outcomes with outdoor learning at the centre

There is a clear “learn it, say it, use it” rhythm to life at Finham Primary, with spoken language and subject vocabulary treated as everyday tools rather than bolt-ons. The setting helps, too; pupils have regular opportunities to learn outdoors, drawing on the school’s fields and woodland areas as part of normal curriculum time.

The June 2024 Ofsted inspection confirmed the school remains Good, with safeguarding arrangements effective.

Leadership is settled. Mrs Sarah Bracken has been headteacher since September 2020, and the school sits within Finham Park Multi Academy Trust.

For families weighing up day-to-day practicality, the structure is straightforward: pupils arrive from 8:45am, register at 8:55am, and the school day runs to 3:30pm, with managed wraparound care available before and after school.

The school’s identity is unusually explicit. Five core values shape the language pupils use and the standards adults expect: teamwork, respect, integrity, enjoyment, and discipline. The important point is not the list itself but the way it is applied; the most recent inspection describes pupils consistently using these values in relationships and daily learning, which is typically what parents mean when they ask whether a school “feels calm” and “well-run”.

Inclusion is also a defining thread. The inspection picture is of a harmonious, welcoming place where pupils play well across age groups, behaviour is strong, and bullying concerns are handled quickly rather than left to drift.

Nursery provision matters to this atmosphere because the school is working with children from age three. Early Years is presented as play-led and language-rich, with staff focusing on practical experiences and talk as a route into thinking and learning behaviours. That combination tends to suit children who need time to build confidence in speaking, listening, and turn-taking before more formal Key Stage 1 routines take over.

One context point parents sometimes miss: the current academy converter establishment dates from the 2016 conversion, even though the school itself has a longer local history under earlier governance. Practically, the day-to-day impact is that policies and wider support sit within the Trust framework, with local governance still visible in published leadership and governor information.

Finham’s Key Stage 2 outcomes are strong by England standards, and the pattern is consistent across reading, writing, maths, and science. In 2024, 88.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 27.33% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and maths, well above the England average of 8%.

Scaled scores add useful detail. Reading averaged 107 and maths averaged 108 (with grammar, punctuation and spelling at 107), which aligns with the broader picture of secure foundational skills rather than a narrow test-prep spike. Science is also a clear positive, with 92% reaching the expected standard, compared with an England average of 82%.

On FindMySchool’s proprietary rankings (based on official outcomes data), Finham Primary ranks 2,682nd in England and 9th in Coventry for primary performance. In plain English, that places it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England, and among the stronger options locally.

Parents comparing nearby schools will usually get the most value by using the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tool, because the context in Coventry can vary sharply between neighbourhoods even over short distances, especially once admissions rules and sibling patterns are factored in.

The strongest evidence here is about precision and consistency. The inspection report highlights a curriculum that sets out the knowledge, skills, and vocabulary pupils are expected to learn, then uses assessment information to adapt teaching so pupils revisit, remember, and build. In classroom terms, that usually shows up as teachers checking understanding frequently, adjusting explanations quickly, and avoiding long gaps between first teaching and retrieval.

Spoken language is a signature move. The school links talk to subject learning, for example expecting pupils to use precise vocabulary in physical education and to explain their reasoning in maths. It also participates in Voice 21’s oracy programme, which signals an explicit, school-wide focus on structured discussion, listening, and presentation skills. The implication for families is that children who are bright but quiet are still expected to articulate their thinking, and children who like to talk are guided towards clarity and evidence rather than volume.

Early reading is treated as a discipline. Staff are described as well trained and consistent in phonics, with quick identification of pupils who need extra help. Alongside this, the report also points to reading culture, with pupils showing real engagement with books and library use.

Outdoor learning is not framed as occasional “forest school days” only. It is described as incorporated into the curriculum, with pupils using woodland areas for science knowledge building (habitats and micro-habitats are a specific example), and the school also publishes a wider “learning outside the classroom” intent. For pupils, the practical payoff is often improved concentration and vocabulary because learning is anchored in real environments rather than solely in worksheets and screens.

There is, however, a clear development point. The inspection identifies handwriting as less consistently taught than early reading, meaning some children do not develop strong letter-formation habits as quickly as they could. For parents, this is worth taking seriously not because handwriting is a “nice-to-have”, but because it can affect writing stamina and confidence in Key Stage 1 and early Key Stage 2.

As a primary, the main transition question is Year 6 to Year 7. Finham sits within Coventry’s coordinated admissions environment, and most pupils will move on to secondary schools serving south Coventry, shaped by family preference, admissions criteria, and travel practicality.

One local reference point is Finham Park School, which sits within the same Trust family and is also on Green Lane. That does not mean progression is automatic, but it can be useful context for families thinking about continuity of ethos, shared priorities, or sibling logistics across phases.

The school’s broader approach to readiness is visible in two areas. First, spoken language and vocabulary expectations support pupils who need to explain and justify ideas, which becomes more important as subjects separate out in secondary. Second, the published curriculum emphasis on outdoor learning and personal development suggests pupils are used to learning beyond a single classroom, which can help with confidence when moving to different teachers and rooms in Year 7.

If secondary shortlisting is a priority, the best practical step is to use FindMySchoolMap Search to check which secondaries are realistic from your address, then overlay that with the Local Authority’s admissions criteria for the relevant year of entry. Coventry patterns can shift year to year as cohorts rise and fall.

For Reception entry, applications sit within Coventry City Council’s coordinated system rather than being allocated by the school. For September 2026 entry, the on-time window opened on 1 September 2025 and closed on 15 January 2026, with the national offer day on 16 April 2026.

Finham Primary is not an “easy fallback” option. Demand data shows 175 applications for 60 offers in the relevant admissions cycle, which is 2.92 applications per place. First preference demand also exceeds places, which is usually where oversubscription becomes most painful for families who list the school as a second or third choice.

The published admission number for 2026-27 is 60.

Oversubscription criteria matter. The school’s policy sets out a defined catchment area (published as a list of roads) and then uses distance as a key tie-breaker when demand exceeds places, with lottery arrangements used where distances are exactly equal. If you are using catchment as a strategy, do not rely on general neighbourhood names; check the actual published list and the Local Authority’s measurement method.

Nursery admissions are handled differently. The nursery is attached to the school and is managed through the school’s own nursery admissions policy, with places described in session terms. The policy sets an admission limit of 26 places in both morning and afternoon sessions, and also notes how this relates to full-time (30 hour) places. Crucially, attendance in nursery does not guarantee a Reception place, because Reception is allocated through the Local Authority’s process.

Open events can be part of the decision. The school has previously run nursery and Reception open mornings (an October pattern is visible), but families should treat dates as changeable and confirm the current year’s schedule directly.

Pastoral strength here is closely linked to behaviour and inclusion. The inspection evidence describes pupils feeling safe and secure, with strong relationships and quick action around bullying concerns.

SEND support is also visible in staffing. The school’s published team structure includes an Inclusion Lead and SENCO, alongside a learning mentor role, which suggests pastoral and additional-needs support is designed into leadership rather than treated as an add-on.

Workload and staff development are described as taken seriously, with professional development supported through Trust links and external associations. For families, the practical implication is usually consistency in classroom routines and fewer “teacher lottery” experiences where expectations change sharply between year groups.

In Early Years, the wellbeing link is explicit: the school frames play as central to learning and positions resilience and mental health language as part of early curriculum intent. That tends to suit children who need supportive routines but still benefit from being encouraged to talk about feelings, challenge, and perseverance in an age-appropriate way.

Finham’s co-curricular offer is unusually specific for a primary, and it helps to think in pillars rather than a generic list: creative making, sport, and practical STEM-style enrichment.

Creative making is not just “arts and crafts”. Pottery appears as a structured club option for Years 3 and 4, typically run in a school space such as the dining room, which signals a proper timetabled activity rather than occasional craft afternoons. For pupils, this kind of club can build patience, fine motor control, and confidence through visible progress over a term.

Sport is offered in layered ways, with football provision including squad-style training for older year groups as well as mixed clubs for younger pupils. Athletics and multi-skills also feature, which is often a better fit for children who enjoy movement but are not ready for team selection dynamics.

Practical enrichment and STEM-flavoured clubs show up in coding, Lego Club, cooking, and even laser tag sessions used as structured activity. Coding Club runs for multiple age brackets, which usually indicates sustained demand rather than a one-off trial.

Martial arts provision is also visible through karate clubs, offered for different year groups. For some pupils, this can be a strong match with the school’s wider emphasis on discipline and consistent routines, because progress is skill-based and incremental.

Music is another area with identifiable staffing rather than a generic “we love music” statement. The school describes offering music lessons to pupils in Years 1 to 6, and publishes background information about its music teacher, which points to an organised approach to instrumental learning rather than a purely ad-hoc model.

Finally, play and outdoor time are treated as developmental priorities, not simply “break time management”. The school references OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) as a whole-school initiative aimed at improving the quality and inclusivity of playtimes. The practical implication is often fewer low-level playground disputes and better social mixing, particularly for pupils who find structured classroom time easier than unstructured social time.

The core day runs from a gate opening at 8:45am to a 3:30pm finish, with staggered breaks and lunchtimes across phases.

Wraparound care is available through the school’s Squirrels provision. Breakfast club runs 7:45am to 8:45am, and after-school club runs 3:30pm to 5:30pm, with published session pricing and a sibling discount structure.

For travel, most families will treat Green Lane as a busy corridor at peak times. If you are planning to drive, build in a buffer and think about where safe drop-off can happen without blocking residents. Walking and cycling are often the simplest options for families within the nearer streets in the catchment list, particularly once weather and dark winter afternoons are considered.

• Competition for places. Reception places are limited, and demand is high, with 175 applications for 60 offers in the most recent data. If this is your first-choice school, submit a timely application and make sure your secondary preferences are realistic as backups.

• Nursery does not guarantee Reception. The nursery is attached to the school, but Reception allocation sits with the Local Authority, so families should plan early and avoid assuming an automatic pathway.

• Handwriting consistency is a priority area. The latest inspection highlights handwriting as less consistent than early reading, which can affect writing fluency for some children. Ask how letter formation is taught and reinforced across Early Years and Key Stage 1.

• Wraparound care is available, but it is a paid add-on. Breakfast and after-school club hours are clear, with published session charges. For some families this is excellent value; for others it becomes a meaningful annual cost to plan for.

Finham Primary stands out for two reasons that matter to parents: strong, measurable Key Stage 2 outcomes, and an educational approach that extends beyond the classroom through outdoor learning, talk, and well-structured enrichment. Leadership stability since 2020 reinforces the sense of consistency.

Best suited to families who want a high-performing state primary with a clear behaviour and values framework, who will use the published admissions criteria carefully and plan ahead for oversubscription realities.