The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
For families looking for an infant school that takes early learning seriously, Pewley Down Infant School stands out for its clarity of purpose and the way it builds confident routines from Reception onwards. The school is Church of England voluntary aided, with a values-led approach that is visible in how pupils talk about kindness, responsibility, and belonging.
Leadership is a key current theme. Miss Vicky Ellis joined as headteacher in September 2024, taking the reins shortly after the July 2024 inspection cycle.
Admissions demand is another headline. The school is oversubscribed, with 155 applications for 59 offers in the latest published results used here, so families should approach the process with eyes open and a back-up plan.
The clearest impression is one of purposeful calm, the kind that makes young children feel safe enough to take risks in their learning. The July 2024 inspection describes pupils’ experience as joyful, rooted in shared values, and supported by staff who aim high for what pupils should learn and achieve.
For a Church of England infant school, faith is not a bolt-on. The wider federation presents its Christian framing explicitly, with language that emphasises each child’s worth and a responsibility to care for others and for the world around them. Families who actively want a faith-shaped environment will recognise the tone immediately; families who prefer a more secular approach should read the admissions arrangements carefully and ask direct questions during visits.
The school’s recent history has included genuine disruption. The 2024 inspection records that, after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was identified in October 2023, the infant provision relocated to alternative classrooms on the junior site for a period. That context matters, because it highlights organisational resilience and the ability to keep routines and standards steady through a difficult year.
Because this is an infant school (ages 4 to 7), there is no Key Stage 2 outcomes profile to rely on in the usual way. The right question for families is therefore not “How strong are the SATs?”, but “How effectively does the school secure early reading, number sense, and learning habits by the end of Year 2?”
The school’s inspection evidence points strongly to those foundations. Early reading is a clear priority, with a structured approach that builds phonics alongside vocabulary and comprehension, and with targeted support that helps pupils who need to catch up. The same inspection also emphasises how closely staff track gaps and misconceptions, including in mathematics, and adapt teaching so that pupils with special educational needs and disabilities can access the same learning.
For parents comparing options locally, it is still worth using FindMySchool’s local tools to look at nearby junior and primary outcomes side-by-side, because the 7+ transition is where longer-run attainment data starts to show up most clearly.
Teaching in a high-performing infant setting is rarely about flashy initiatives. It is about sequencing, routines, and consistency. The July 2024 inspection describes a curriculum that is ambitious from the early years, and a Key Stage 1 programme designed to extend knowledge and skills through clear progressions, including in physical education where skills are built deliberately over time.
A particularly useful indicator for parents is how the school treats language. Where a significant proportion of pupils speak English as an additional language, teaching has to be precise about vocabulary and comprehension, not just decoding. The inspection evidence explicitly notes that leaders have tailored the reading approach to reflect that context.
The wider federation’s stated curriculum intent is “creative, cross-curricular and child-centred”, with an emphasis on enquiry and exploration. As always, families should translate that into practical questions: how phonics is taught daily, how writing stamina is built across Year 1 and Year 2, and how teachers communicate the small next steps that matter at this age.
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
FMS Inspection Score calculated by FindMySchool based on official inspection data.
The dominant pathway is progression to Holy Trinity Junior School at Year 3, as part of the federation. That said, it is important to be clear-eyed about process: Year 3 entry is an admissions round in its own right, and families are directed to apply through Surrey’s coordinated system (with a supplementary information form used for certain criteria).
For families considering infant choices with a longer view, it is sensible to look at junior school alternatives in the Guildford area at the same time, particularly if your move is recent or your address may change before allocation.
Pewley Down Infant School is a Surrey local authority school place process for Reception, and the school’s own admissions guidance for September 2026 entry points applicants directly to Surrey’s coordinated application route. Applications open from 3 November 2025, and the on-time closing date is 15 January 2026. Surrey sends outcomes on the evening of 16 April 2026 (national offer day for primary).
Demand is a key reality here. In the latest admissions results used, 155 applications produced 59 offers, which helps explain why families should avoid treating this as a “safe” option.
A practical tip: if you are weighing up several local schools, use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check the day-to-day practicality of the run, not just the headline feel. For tight local markets, small differences in walking route, drop-off constraints, and childcare logistics can matter as much as educational fit.
86.4%
1st preference success rate
57 of 66 first-choice applicants received an offer
Places
59
Offers
59
Applications
155
Pastoral strength at infant level shows up in routines, emotional vocabulary, and how adults handle small incidents before they become patterns. The 2024 inspection points to clear routines and expectations, and describes early years practice that explicitly helps children develop independence, confidence, patience, and strategies for expressing emotions.
Safeguarding information is presented as a whole-school responsibility, with the headteacher named as Designated Safeguarding Lead. While safeguarding processes should be a baseline expectation, families can still use visits to understand how concerns are raised, how communication with parents works, and how the school supports pupils who need extra help settling.
Infant schools can feel limited on extracurriculars if you only look for traditional “clubs”. Here, there are two distinct layers.
First, there is the school’s own enrichment rhythm. The 2024 inspection references a bespoke programme of activities and experiences, including “Fluffy Fridays”, designed to build cooperation and self-esteem through sporting and creative challenges, with inclusion for pupils with SEND emphasised explicitly.
Second, there is a structured after-school offer, including teacher-led clubs and external providers. A Spring 2026 clubs timetable for the infant site includes options such as Dodgeball, Ground Force, Wonder Club, Paper Folding, and Bible Stories, alongside paid provider clubs such as Boogie Pumps, Ballet, Kickstart Football, Recorder, and Tennis. The specific naming matters, because it gives a clearer sense of what “enrichment” looks like week by week for 4 to 7 year olds.
Parents should also factor in that after-school scheduling interacts with childcare: some clubs end before longer-session after-school care, so you will want to confirm how handover is managed if you rely on extended hours.
The infant school day is stated as starting at 8.30am and finishing at 3.00pm.
Wraparound care is clearly described. From September 2025, before-school care is offered from 8.00am to 8.30am, and after-school care runs from 3.00pm (or 3.15pm for some groups) until 6.00pm, with separate arrangements for the infant site and junior site. Pricing is published for sessions, and booking expectations differ between breakfast club and after-school care.
On transport, the school’s location in Guildford makes walking routes and short car journeys common for many families, but drop-off and pick-up practicality still varies sharply by exact address and working pattern. If you are moving into the area, test the journey at peak time before committing.
Oversubscription is the limiting factor. With 155 applications for 59 offers used here, admission can be competitive, so families should line up realistic alternatives.
Faith character is real. This is a Church of England voluntary aided school, with a federation ethos that explicitly frames school life in Christian terms. That will suit some families very well, and be a poor match for others.
Recent disruption is part of the story. RAAC-related relocation is noted in the 2024 inspection narrative. Many schools faced building disruption in this period, but families may still want to ask what has changed operationally since then and what contingency planning looks like now.
Year 3 transition is not automatic. The federation link to the junior school is a strength, but Year 3 still has its own application route and paperwork, including the possibility of a supplementary information form.
Pewley Down Infant School offers a structured, values-led early education that places early reading, language development, and learning routines at the centre. It will suit families who want a Church of England infant setting, who value consistent expectations, and who will make use of extended hours and the well-defined clubs programme. The main challenge is admission, so shortlisting should be practical as well as aspirational.
The most recent graded inspection (July 2024) judged the school Outstanding overall, with Outstanding gradings across the main areas reported. Inspection evidence also highlights ambitious expectations for learning, strong early reading practice, and clear routines that support behaviour and engagement.
Apply through Surrey’s coordinated admissions route. Applications for September 2026 open from 3 November 2025 and close on 15 January 2026 for on-time applications, with outcomes sent on 16 April 2026.
Yes. Published information describes breakfast provision from 8.00am to 8.30am and after-school provision up to 6.00pm, with booking requirements and session structures set out by the school.
The school publishes termly club listings. A Spring 2026 timetable includes clubs such as Dodgeball, Ground Force, Wonder Club, Paper Folding, and Bible Stories, alongside provider-led activities including Ballet, Tennis, and football.
Yes. The school is recorded as oversubscribed, with 155 applications and 59 offers in the latest published admissions results used here.
Get in touch with the school directly
Disclaimer
Information on this page is compiled, analysed, and processed from publicly available sources including the Department for Education (DfE), Ofsted, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and official school websites.
Our rankings, metrics, and assessments are derived from this data using our own methodologies and represent our independent analysis rather than official standings.
While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all information is current, complete, or error-free. Data may change without notice, and schools and/or local authorities should be contacted directly to verify any details before making decisions.
FindMySchool does not endorse any particular school, and rankings reflect specific metrics rather than overall quality.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on information provided. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us.