Wonersh and Shamley Green CofE Aided Primary School Review 2026: High-performing village primary with strong Church of England admissions priorities

Six acres of grounds and nearby woodlands shape a school day that makes room for outdoor learning alongside high academic expectations. The headline picture on attainment is clear: 2024 key stage 2 outcomes sit well above England averages, and the school is ranked 501st in England and 1st in Guildford for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data).

Demand is equally clear. With 121 applications for 30 Reception offers in the most recent admissions dataset, competition can be intense, and the admissions rules matter. For many families, this is a Church of England primary where faith and community links are not an add-on, they are part of how priorities are set for places.

A strong sense of belonging runs through the school’s own language about a distinctly Christian environment, and that is reinforced by regular collective worship and close links with local clergy. For families who want a village primary where Church life is visible in assemblies and community rhythms, that alignment can feel reassuring. For families who would rather keep faith separate from schooling, it can be a deciding factor in the other direction.

Leadership opportunities appear early and often. The pupil parliament structure gives pupils defined roles, with committees that take responsibility for areas such as wellbeing, reading, art, healthy eating, fundraising, and sport. It is a practical way of teaching voice and responsibility, and it also signals a culture where contribution is expected from everyone, not just the naturally confident.

The current headteacher is Tim Cheesman, who has led the school since September 2020. This period includes the most recent inspection cycle and a sustained focus on academic consistency alongside inclusion.

2024 outcomes at the end of key stage 2 are strong across the core measures. In reading, writing and mathematics combined, 88.67% of pupils met the expected standard, compared with the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 49% reached greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with the England average of 8%. These are the kinds of figures that typically translate into confident secondary readiness for pupils across the attainment range, not only at the top end.

Subject by subject, the same pattern holds. In 2024, 93% met the expected standard in reading, 90% in mathematics, 90% in grammar, punctuation and spelling, and 90% in science. Those percentages suggest strength across the curriculum rather than a narrow concentration in one area.

Rankings help parents place this in context. Ranked 501st in England and 1st in Guildford for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), performance is well above England average, placing it in the top 10% of schools in England by attainment profile.

Parents comparing local options may find it useful to use the FindMySchool Local Hub pages and Comparison Tool to view nearby primaries side by side, especially when weighing outcomes against commute and wraparound needs.

The curriculum is presented as broad and enriched, including themed weeks that take pupils off timetable and across year groups. Examples include a week on inclusion exploring disabilities, a sustainability themed week, an environmental art and design and technology week, and a focused Shakespeare week. The value is not the label, it is the implication: children practise applying literacy, reasoning, and creativity in joined-up contexts, which tends to suit pupils who learn best by doing as well as by writing.

Reading is treated as a core priority from early years onwards, with staff training and clear routines that support early fluency and targeted catch-up for pupils who need it. Mathematics is similarly structured, with regular revisiting of prior learning and a focus on explaining reasoning when misconceptions arise. For many pupils, that combination, secure early reading plus carefully built mathematical foundations, is what underpins the unusually high proportions reaching the higher standard by Year 6.

In the wider curriculum, the academic offer includes ambitious history and geography, with educational visits and fieldwork used to help pupils retain and apply knowledge. Digital mapping skills and investigative work in history are specific examples of the kind of disciplinary thinking that often sets pupils up well for secondary humanities.

As a Surrey primary, families typically transfer to a range of secondary schools across the local area, and the school’s role is to prepare pupils for different pathways rather than a single destination. Transition support tends to be strongest when it is practical, confident routines, clear communication with families, and careful handover for pupils who need additional support.

Year 6 experiences are designed to mark that transition and to build independence. A notable example is the water sports week that includes staying on a boat, which combines teamwork, responsibility, and managed risk in a way classroom learning cannot. This kind of experience often matters most for pupils who benefit from confidence-building before the move to a larger setting.

Reception entry is highly competitive: 121 applications for 30 offers equates to just over four applications per place. That level of demand usually means families need to be realistic about prioritisation rules and to apply on time.

Because this is a voluntary aided Church of England school, the oversubscription criteria are distinctive. Alongside the usual priorities (looked-after and previously looked-after children, exceptional circumstances, and siblings), priority is given to children living in specified civil and ecclesiastical parishes, and then to children whose family can evidence regular attendance at a Christian church. The admissions policy also makes clear that a Supplementary Information Form is necessary for some church attendance criteria to be considered.

Timing matters. For September 2026 entry, Surrey’s coordinated closing date for on-time primary applications is 15 January 2026, with offers issued on 16 April 2026 (national offer day). The school also lists tours for prospective Reception families, including a January tour ahead of the Surrey deadline, which is useful for families who want to understand the setting before completing preferences. Parents considering this school should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check practical travel distance, then treat the admissions criteria as the deciding factor once eligibility and priority categories are clear.

Safeguarding culture is described as systematic and well understood by staff, with clear reporting, rigorous recruitment practice, and careful record keeping. For parents, the most practical implication is that concerns are expected to be escalated quickly and consistently, not handled informally or inconsistently across staff.

Inclusion is also presented as a core strength. Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is framed as enabling access to the full curriculum, with staff skilled at identifying where pupils need extra help and planning support with pupils so their voice is part of the process. That matters in a high-performing school, because the risk in any ambitious setting is that pupils who need scaffolding can feel left behind unless systems are deliberate.

Beyond formal systems, the school’s emphasis on kindness and relationships, alongside structured pupil leadership roles, tends to create a culture where pupils learn to look out for each other.

Extracurricular life is structured around both enrichment and practical wraparound. The school’s before-school provision includes a Rise and Shine club running 7:45am to 8:30am, which can make the commute workable for families with early starts. After school, there is organised wraparound care available through a club running until 6:00pm on school days, which is a meaningful point of differentiation for working families.

Clubs combine school-run and provider-run options. Examples include Hockey Club for Years 4 to 6, Drama Llamas for all years, Rock Band (with pupils choosing instruments such as drums, electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, or vocals), and art clubs for different age ranges. School-run sport options include football and netball for Years 5 and 6, both listed as free, which can help keep participation broad.

Pupils also access a strong programme of sport and trips through the school day itself. Competitive opportunities include festivals and house tournaments across sports such as dodgeball, netball, handball, and athletics, and trips include educational visits alongside residential experiences. The implication for families is a school life that does not rely on private coaching or external clubs to create breadth, even though many children will still choose to add those.

This is a state-funded primary school with no tuition fees. Families should still budget for the usual extras such as uniform, trips, and optional clubs.

Daily rhythms are clearly set out in school materials. The playground gates are locked at 9:00am, and pupils are considered officially late if they are not in school by 9:10am. The school day ends at 3:00pm for infants and 3:20pm for juniors. Wraparound can extend the day meaningfully, with before-school provision from 7:45am and after-school childcare listed until 6:00pm.

Practicalities for drop-off and travel include a one-way morning car drop-off system and on-site bike storage. School dinners are provided by Twelve15, which may matter to families weighing meal quality and logistics.

• Competition for Reception places. With 121 applications for 30 offers in the latest dataset, admission can be the limiting factor for otherwise suitable families. Plan for realistic alternatives on the application form.

• Faith-linked admissions criteria. Parish residence and evidence of regular Christian church attendance can affect priority, and some criteria require a Supplementary Information Form. Families who are not aligned with this may find the route to entry narrower.

• Wraparound costs add up. Before-school and after-school options are a real benefit, but charges vary by provider and session. It is worth modelling the weekly total alongside commuting costs.

• A village setting can mean car dependence. The one-way drop-off system helps, but families should think through year-round logistics, including winter mornings and multiple pickups.

Strong outcomes, clear routines, and an education shaped by Church of England values make this a compelling option for many local families. The best fit is for parents who want a high-performing primary with visible Christian ethos, and who can engage with the admissions priorities and practical logistics. Entry remains the primary hurdle; for pupils who secure a place, the experience combines academic ambition with a school day that makes room for leadership, sport, and outdoor learning.