St Mary's Kilburn Church of England Primary School Review 2026: Excellence in Every Area

In North London's Kilburn neighbourhood, where Georgian terraces and Victorian conversions form tight residential streets, St Mary's Kilburn has earned recognition as one of the finest primary schools in London. The school's July 2023 Ofsted inspection awarded Outstanding grades across every area: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership, and early years provision. With 230 pupils aged 3 to 11, including a dedicated nursery, the school sits among the top 10% of primaries in England for KS2 achievement, ranking 606th nationally and 7th in Camden. These figures translate into real outcomes: 95% of pupils met expected standards in reading, writing, and mathematics combined, well ahead of the 62% England average. The school's success reflects not just academic rigour but a culture where children from the local, diverse Kilburn community flourish emotionally, socially, and intellectually.

Samantha Marsham serves as Head of School, while the wider school partnership operates under Executive Headteacher Harvey Webb, reflecting a collaborative federation structure across Camden and Westminster. Walking past Quex Road into the school reveals an atmosphere of purposeful calm. Pupils move between lessons with focus, greet adults by name, and speak enthusiastically about their learning. The school's core values — integrity, honesty, determination, and excellence — are not decorative wall text but actively shape daily life. Pupils describe being treated fairly, encouraged to try their best, and supported when struggles arise.

The school serves a deeply diverse community. English as a first language is spoken by only 33% of pupils; the remaining 67% speak languages including Spanish, Bengali, Arabic, and others. This diversity is valued explicitly. The school welcomes children from all faiths and none, and maintains partnerships with both St Mary with All Souls and St James churches. Staff model respect for different backgrounds, and pupils grow up naturally comfortable with cultural difference. For families concerned about belonging across religious or linguistic lines, St Mary's creates genuine inclusion, not mere tolerance.

The Ofsted report noted that leaders have "extremely high expectations for all pupils and staff" and have "created a consistent approach to behaviour expectations and curriculum ambitions." Behaviour is described as "highly positive across the school." Parents consistently cite the school as warm and approachable.

KS2 Academic Performance

St Mary's delivered exceptional results in 2024. In reading, writing, and mathematics combined, 95% of pupils reached the expected standard, compared to 62% nationally — a difference of 33%age points. At the higher standard (demonstrating greater depth), 33% achieved top grades, against an England average of 8%, a substantial margin reflecting depth of learning rather than merely meeting minimum targets.

By individual subject:

• Reading: 100% reached expected standard. The reading scaled score of 109 exceeds the England average of 100, indicating pupils read with fluency and comprehension beyond age-related expectation. Teachers described pupils as having "a genuine love of reading and the authors who inspire them."
• Mathematics: 96% reached expected standard with a scaled score of 109 (England average 100), showing secure calculation, reasoning, and problem-solving.
• Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling: 96% reached expected standard with a scaled score of 111 (England average 100), the school's strongest scaled score, reflecting explicit systematic teaching and high expectations for written communication.
• Science: 88% reached expected standard, slightly below KS2 combined, suggesting targeted support for some pupils in this subject.

These results place St Mary's in the top 10% of England's primary schools (FindMySchool ranking: 606th nationally). Locally, the school ranks 7th among 45 Camden primaries, reflecting its prominence as a high-achieving option within a borough known for strong schools.

The curriculum is described by inspectors as "ambitious," deliberately built to deepen knowledge progressively from the early years. Leaders have identified key learning areas and structured them sequentially, ensuring pupils accumulate understanding over time rather than learning in isolated units.

Reading receives particular focus. A systematic phonics programme begins in Reception, with texts carefully matched to pupil ability. Staff model enthusiasm for books, and children move quickly from decoding to genuine enjoyment. Early years pupils encounter reading through play activities — letters embedded in sand, stories on outdoor learning boards — making literacy feel natural rather than didactic.

Mathematics is taught with clear structure. Setting begins in Year 4, allowing teachers to pace lessons appropriately. Problem-solving and reasoning are woven throughout, not bolted on. The scaled score of 109, higher than reading, suggests pupils have developed both procedural fluency (accurate calculation) and conceptual understanding.

Subject specialists teach many pupils by Year 6. Teachers demonstrate high-quality subject knowledge and "imaginative content" that inspires engagement. Pupils receive regular, tailored feedback addressing misconceptions quickly, preventing misunderstandings from calcifying into learning gaps.

The wider curriculum covers the full national spectrum: science, history, geography, PE, art, design technology, music, RE, and PSHE. The school works with a local theatre company to run "Inspiration Days" introducing history and geography topics through dramatic exploration, building pupils' cultural capital alongside factual knowledge.

A robust safeguarding culture permeates the school. Staff are well-trained to recognize harm and respond promptly. Pupils feel confident approaching any adult if worried, and the inspection confirmed this lived reality rather than theory. Parents echoed this confidence.

Mental health support is embedded. Pupils have access to tailored emotional support through trained staff, ensuring that anxiety, grief, or family stress does not derail learning. The school runs a structured behaviour system recognising positive choices and addressing low-level disruption immediately.

Support for pupils with SEND is described as "excellent." Teachers identify struggling pupils rapidly and provide targeted intervention — whether phonics catch-up, fine motor practice, or social communication support. The school holds the Inclusion Quality Mark, reflecting systematic SEND provision.

The school offers an intentional programme of enrichment. After-school curriculum clubs run Monday through Thursday, with activities rotating termly to maintain freshness. Pupils access music instrument lessons (taught by specialist tutors), with particular strength in string and wind instruction. Year 4 pupils all learn recorder as part of the core curriculum, with talented players progressing to individual tuition.

The annual calendar features significant moments: a Year 6 residential to the Isle of Wight combining team-building with outdoor learning; a whole-school Christmas production showcasing talent across music, drama, and technical roles; and Sports Day held at Palmer Park, where the extended grounds allow track races, relay competitions, and field events.

The school operates a breakfast club (from 7:45am) and after-school childcare extending to 6pm, essential support for working parents in London's expensive housing context. Holiday clubs provide continuity during school breaks.

Physical education is compulsory and varied. Football, netball, and cricket represent traditional sports, with competitive fixtures against other schools fostering team spirit. The school benefits from access to local playing fields and indoor gymnasium facilities, ensuring weather does not curtail provision.

The Friends of St Mary's parent group runs fundraising events and social occasions, building community connection beyond classroom relationships.

Most pupils progress to secondary schools across north and north-west London. St Augustine's Federated Schools (Church of England High) receives 52% of leavers, reflecting the school's faith character and the church link. The UCL Academy (11%) and St Marylebone Church of England School (11%) absorb further cohorts, with the remainder distributed across other comprehensive and selective secondaries.

The 11-plus selective route is present but not dominant. The school provides familiarisation sessions (exposure to style and format) rather than intensive grammar school preparation. Families seeking tutoring typically arrange this independently, and the school emphasises that success depends on baseline aptitude rather than coaching intensity.

St Mary's operates as a Voluntary Aided (VA) Church of England school within Camden's admissions framework. Places are allocated through coordinated secondary admissions; it does not operate as an independent application route.

Demand significantly exceeds supply. In the most recent year for which data is available, 115 families applied for just 30 Reception places — a ratio of 3.83 applications per place. After looked-after children and those with EHCPs are prioritised, remaining places go by distance. The school has no formal catchment boundary, meaning proximity to the school gates becomes the practical gatekeeper.

Church of England faith is relevant to admissions but is not an absolute barrier. Families of all faiths are welcome and serve on the governing body. The school explicitly states it welcomes pupils regardless of religious background or belief.

Applications are made through Camden's coordinated admissions scheme (typically January deadline for September entry). Prospective families should verify current application procedures on the school website and Camden's online portal.

School day runs 8:50am to 3:20pm Monday through Friday. Breakfast club opens at 7:45am; after-school childcare extends to 6pm (available through an external provider). Holiday clubs operate during main school breaks.

Uniform is standard: bottle-green polo shirt or sweatshirt, black trousers or skirt, sensible black shoes. School lunches are provided daily or families may send packed lunches. Lunch payment operates via the ParentPay online system.

The school is located on Quex Road in Kilburn, north London (postcode NW6 4PG). It is accessible by public transport: Kilburn High Road (Northern line, Bakerloo) is a 10-minute walk; West Hampstead (Northern, Jubilee, District) is 15 minutes by foot. Buses 16, 31, and 189 serve the area. Limited on-street parking is available; many families walk or cycle.

Oversubscription. With 3.83 applications per place, securing entry is challenging. Proximity is the decisive factor after priority groups. Families should verify their distance to the school gates relative to the last pupil admitted in their desired entry year (typically published in autumn). Relying on location alone carries risk; some families still miss out despite living reasonably close.

Nursery provision. The school offers nursery care for pupils from age 3, integrated within the main primary campus. Hours and fees should be confirmed directly with the school, as funding eligibility and costs vary. Government-funded early years entitlements (15 or 30 hours, depending on child age and family circumstances) may apply; families should check eligibility.

Diverse community dynamics. While diversity is a genuine strength, families seeking a school where their child sees immediate cultural and linguistic mirrors may find themselves among the minority (English first-language speakers are 33% here). However, for families valuing multicultural experience, this is precisely the asset. The school's explicit welcome for interfaith and non-religious families means it is genuinely inclusive, not just superficially diverse.

St Mary's Kilburn represents world-class primary education within the state system. Results rival independent day schools. The Ofsted Outstanding rating across every area reflects not exam-factory rigour but genuine commitment to each child's flourishing: academic, emotional, social, and spiritual. Leadership is visionary; staff are skilled and empowered; the culture is one of respect and high expectation.

The school suits families within reasonable distance of Kilburn who value breadth alongside academic rigour, embrace multicultural community, and respect the school's Church of England identity without requiring church attendance or belief. It is best for pupils who thrive with structured curriculum, clear behaviour expectations, and staff who know them well.

The main barrier is admission itself; securing a place is the puzzle rather than thriving once inside.