Summerside Primary Academy Review 2026: Inclusive Finchley primary with strong Key Stage 2 outcomes

Drop off here is purposeful, with clear routines, structured behaviour expectations, and a steady focus on getting pupils ready to learn. The school opened as an academy on 01 September 2017, following the predecessor school’s closure at the end of August 2017.

The headteacher is Mrs Charlotte Trew. The school is part of REAch2 Academy Trust, which adds a shared trust-wide approach to curriculum planning and wider experiences.

The latest Ofsted inspection (21 and 22 January 2025) found the school had taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection; safeguarding arrangements were effective.

Summerside’s tone is defined by high expectations paired with inclusion. Pupils are expected to work hard, behave thoughtfully, and take responsibility for their choices, and staff reinforce this consistently through routines and clear responses to poor behaviour.

Inclusion is not an add-on. A distinctive feature is the specialist resourced provision for deaf children, with places from Nursery through Year 6. This is designed to combine mainstream class learning with specialist support, including daily audiology checks, communication profiles, and targeted pre teaching of key vocabulary so pupils can access the same curriculum as their peers.

Nursery provision is part of the main school, which matters for families who want a familiar setting before Reception. Sessions are clearly defined, and there is also an option that aligns with government funded hours for eligible families. The best indicator of the Early Years culture is consistency: adults focus on vocabulary and communication early, and routines are built around helping children become increasingly independent.

Outcomes at the end of Key Stage 2 are a clear strength. In the most recent published results 79.3% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, above the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 29% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with the England average of 8%.

The component measures also look strong. Reading and maths scaled scores sit at 107 and 106 respectively, while grammar, punctuation and spelling is 109, each above the typical national benchmark of 100 for scaled scores.

Rankings reinforce that picture. Ranked 2,979th in England and 42nd in Barnet for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), this sits above the England average, comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

One nuance worth understanding is science. The percentage meeting the expected standard in science (70%) is below the England average shown (82%). For most families, this is less about headline attainment and more about curriculum implementation, so it is a useful question to raise at a tour: how is science taught across key stages, and how is knowledge checked and revisited.

Parents comparing local primaries can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page to view these results side by side, and to compare the reading, maths and higher standard rates with other Barnet schools.

Teaching is structured around a curriculum that has been revised and refined across subjects, with staff clarity on what knowledge and skills build year by year. That kind of curriculum sequencing matters in a larger primary because it helps consistency across classes, and it also supports staff who are new to the school.

Reading is a central strand. Pupils have access to a rich range of books, and those who find learning to read harder are identified and supported so they can catch up. The school is also working to accelerate the speed at which these pupils become confident readers, which suggests a focus on early intervention and keeping gaps from hardening.

Early Years practice is strongly language led, with deliberate vocabulary development in preparation for Year 1. For nursery and Reception families, this usually translates into adults modelling language, insisting on precise words, and building confidence through repeated routines that help children manage transitions and work independently.

SEND support is described as well established, and the deaf provision is a particularly concrete example of specialist expertise embedded within mainstream life.

As a primary school through to Year 6, the key transition is Year 7. The school’s stated intent is clear: pupils are prepared well for secondary school, supported by high expectations for achievement and behaviour and a curriculum that builds secure foundations in reading and mathematics.

The most useful practical step for families is to look at secondary options early and map the journey, especially if siblings or childcare logistics matter. If you are shortlisting, use FindMySchoolMap Search to check travel time and compare likely admission patterns for the secondary schools you are considering.

Reception admissions are coordinated by Barnet, with the published timetable for September 2026 entry. The application process opens on 01 September 2025 and the on time deadline is 15 January 2026, with offers on 16 April 2026.

Demand is a real factor. In the latest admissions figures there were 99 applications for 43 offers, indicating oversubscription. This does not automatically mean families have no chance, but it does mean you should use all your preferences wisely and include realistic alternatives.

For Nursery, the route is different. Places are offered directly and sessions run in defined blocks across the week. The school also references government funded hours for eligible families. Nursery fee details can change and should be checked on the school’s own information pages.

Open events for Reception are promoted via bookable tours. The dates shown online are time specific and can become outdated quickly, but the pattern indicates tours typically run from autumn into January, so it is sensible to look for these in the early part of the academic year before the January application deadline.

Pastoral systems are built around clear expectations and consistent follow through. Pupils are described as polite and excited about learning, and behaviour issues are addressed properly by staff.

Attendance is treated as a priority. The school explicitly frames punctual daily attendance as essential, with gates opening at 8:45am for a 9:00am start.

There is also a practical layer of wellbeing support for families who need wraparound childcare. Breakfast club and after school childcare extend the day, which can be the difference between a workable routine and a constant scramble.

Summerside’s wider offer has two distinct strands: clubs and structured “experience” programmes.

Clubs include organised sport options after school, such as KS2 Multisport, UKS2 Girls Football, UKS2 Boys Football, and Bounce. For families, the implication is simple: if your child needs a physical outlet after a school day, there are defined pathways to do that without relying on external providers.

The school also runs a behaviour linked “golden cycle” incentive, where pupils with the best behaviour can aim to set a distance record on the golden bicycle. This is a small detail, but it reveals something important about culture: rewards are tied to consistency over time, not just one off achievement.

Alongside clubs, the REAch2 “11 experiences before 11” programme is positioned as a promise of memorable, confidence building activities. For Summerside specifically, examples referenced include hiking, sleeping under the stars, helping others, and growing food, and pupils also take part in trips to museums and cultural landmarks to deepen curriculum learning.

Music provision includes opportunities for instrument lessons, with guitar and piano referenced.

The school day runs 9:00am to 3:30pm, with gates opening at 8:45am. Breakfast club is available for Reception to Year 6, with arrival between 8:00 and 8:15, and it costs £4 per day, free for pupils eligible for free school meals due to family income.

After school childcare runs until 6:00pm via an external provider. Pricing and booking sit with the provider, so families should check current terms directly.

For travel, the school highlights bus routes 221 and 134, and notes walking distance from Woodside Park and West Finchley stations on the Northern line. Parking is described as free in surrounding roads, with restrictions on nearby streets during morning and afternoon school run windows.

• Ofsted improvement point. Teaching is described as clear and well structured overall, but in a few foundation subjects, checking of pupils’ understanding is not always as strong as it could be. For families, the key question is how leaders are tightening assessment and adaptation outside English and maths.

• Competition for places. With 99 applications for 43 offers in the latest dataset snapshot, admissions pressure is real. Families should plan a balanced set of preferences and consider realistic alternatives.

• Wraparound logistics. Breakfast club is straightforward, but after school care is delivered via a separate provider with its own booking and pricing. That can work well, but it adds an extra admin step for families.

• Specialist deaf provision. This is a major positive for the right child, but it also means the school serves a broader range of needs and support plans. Families should ask how mainstream classes are staffed and how specialist expertise is shared across the wider school.

Summerside Primary Academy suits families who want a structured, high expectation primary with strong Key Stage 2 results and a credible inclusion offer, particularly for deaf children. It also suits families who value wider experiences, from sports clubs to trust wide “11 before 11” activities. The main challenge is securing a place in an oversubscribed context, so shortlist early and keep your admissions plan realistic.