St Mary's Church of England Primary Norwood Green Review 2026: Academic Excellence in a Village Setting

St Mary's Church of England Primary School sits in the historic heart of Norwood Green, offering a village school atmosphere within the urban landscape of Ealing. With a capacity for 210 pupils, this one form entry school provides a small, close knit environment where every child is known by name. The school's performance is exceptional; 2024 results place it among the highest performing schools in England, outperforming 93% of schools nationally.

As a Church of England school, it maintains a strong Christian character that influences both its values and its community focus. Executive head teacher Mrs Rachel Blake has led the school since 2022, overseeing a period of sustained academic success and high demand for places. For families seeking a traditional, high achieving primary education with a supportive faith based ethos, St Mary's represents one of the strongest options in West London.

The atmosphere at St Mary's is defined by its small size and its identity as a Church of England institution. The school occupies a well maintained site on Tentelow Lane, where the historic architecture of Norwood Green meets modern educational facilities. There is a palpable sense of calm and order, which the school credits to its core Christian values of Love, Respect, and Resilience.

While it is located in a busy part of London, the school manages to retain a peaceful, focused environment. The single form entry structure means that pupils remain with the same peer group throughout their primary years, fostering deep friendships and a strong sense of belonging. Older pupils are encouraged to take on leadership roles, such as serving as school councillors or play leaders, which helps maintain a supportive bridge between year groups.

The relationship with the local parish is active, and the school uses the nearby St Mary's Church for major festivals and regular worship. This connection reinforces the school's role as a pillar of the Norwood Green community.

St Mary's achieves academic outcomes that are significantly above both local and England averages. In 2024, 76% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing, and mathematics combined. This is a strong achievement compared to the England average of 61%.

Performance at the higher standard is particularly striking. 21% of pupils achieved the higher standard in all three core subjects, whereas the England average sits at just 8%. This level of attainment places the school in the elite tier of primary education.

The school ranks 996th in England outranking over 14,000 other primary schools (FindMySchool proprietary ranking). Locally, it ranks 10th among all primaries in Ealing. This high ranking reflects the school's ability to stretch its most able pupils while ensuring the vast majority reach or exceed age related expectations.

Teaching at St Mary's is characterised by high expectations and a structured approach to the core curriculum. The 2024 results are supported by strong scaled scores, with an average of 109 in reading and 110 in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. These figures indicate that pupils are not just meeting benchmarks but are mastering the curriculum in depth.

The school provides a broad and balanced curriculum that integrates the arts, sciences, and humanities alongside literacy and numeracy. Specialist teaching is used effectively to enhance learning, particularly in music and physical education. The small class sizes and the stability of the teaching staff allow for a personalised approach where individual progress is monitored closely.

For the youngest learners, the nursery provision provides a seamless entry into the school's culture. The focus here is on early literacy and social development, ensuring that pupils are well prepared for the transition into Reception.

Extracurricular life at St Mary's is designed to complement the academic rigour of the classroom. The school offers a variety of clubs that cater to diverse interests, including the St Mary's Choir, which performs at community events, and the popular Ukulele and Piano lessons.

Sports play a significant role in the school day. Pupils have access to regular fixtures and internal competitions, with the school making good use of its outdoor spaces for netball, football, and athletics. The school also organises regular educational trips across London, taking advantage of the capital's museums and galleries to bring the history and geography curricula to life.

The pastoral care at St Mary's is rooted in its Christian ethos. The school operates as a nurturing community where the emotional wellbeing of pupils is treated with the same importance as their academic progress. Staff are trained to recognise early signs of anxiety or social difficulty, and the small school size ensures that no child is overlooked.

Collective worship is a daily feature of school life, providing pupils with time for reflection and the development of their moral compass. The school's behaviour policy is positive and restorative, focusing on the values of forgiveness and mutual respect. Parents frequently cite the school's warm, family like environment as one of its greatest strengths.

St Mary's is a highly sought after school and is consistently oversubscribed. In the most recent admissions cycle, the school maintained its one form entry capacity of 30 pupils per year group.

As a voluntary aided Church of England school, the trustees are the admissions authority. While the school serves the local community, priority is given to children from families who are practising members of the Church of England or other Christian denominations (Foundation Places). Families applying under faith criteria are required to submit a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) alongside their local authority application.

Proximity to the school is the tie breaker for most categories. While the school does not publish a formal catchment map, its popular status suggests that those living outside the immediate Norwood Green area may find it difficult to secure a place without strong faith priority.

Nursery Provision

St Mary's offers nursery provision for children from the age of three, which is fully integrated into the school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The nursery is housed in a purpose built space with its own dedicated outdoor learning area, allowing younger children to explore and play in a safe, age appropriate environment.

The curriculum in the nursery focuses on the seven areas of learning, with a heavy emphasis on communication, language, and physical development. Staff are highly experienced practitioners who focus on building the confidence and independence of the children.

Government funded hours are available for eligible families. Parents should note that a place in the nursery does not guarantee automatic admission to the main school's Reception class; a separate application must be made through Ealing Council. For nursery fee details for any hours exceeding the funded entitlement, parents should contact the school office directly.

The school day typically runs from 8:30am to 3:10pm. St Mary's provides wraparound care to support working families, including a Breakfast Club starting at 7:30am and an After School Club that runs until 6:00pm. These sessions are held on site and provide a mix of structured activities and quiet time.

The school is located on Tentelow Lane, which can become congested during drop off and pick up times. There is no on site parking for parents, so walking or using public transport is strongly encouraged. The area is served by several local bus routes that connect Norwood Green to Southall and Heston.

• High competition for places: Entry is highly sought after, and the school is frequently oversubscribed. Families without strong faith connections or who live further away should have a clear backup plan.
• Faith commitment: The school's Church of England identity is central to daily life. Families should be comfortable with regular Christian worship and an education grounded in Gospel values.
• One form entry limitations: While the small size is a benefit for many, it means the peer group is small and stays together for seven years. This environment suits children who thrive in stable, intimate settings.
• Secondary transition: As a primary school, the burden of selecting and securing a secondary school place falls in Year 6. Most pupils transition to local Ealing or Hounslow secondaries, but the high academic standard means some families also target selective grammar schools.

St Mary's Church of England Primary Norwood Green is an academic powerhouse that retains the heart of a village school. Its results are truly exceptional, placing it among the top 10% of schools in England (national high band), and its Christian ethos provides a stable moral framework for its pupils. It is best suited to local families who value a small, traditional school environment and are supportive of its faith based character. For those who secure a place, the school offers an educational foundation that is among the best in the borough.