Merryhills Primary School Review 2026: High-attaining Enfield primary with strong outdoor learning

Merryhills is a three-form entry primary in Enfield, with a large cohort size that tends to bring breadth of friendships and plenty of chances to try things beyond the core curriculum. The site is a real asset, with playing fields, a conservation area and a dedicated Forest School space described as central to its outdoor learning approach.

Academic outcomes stand out. In 2024, 92.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 40.67% reached greater depth across reading, writing and mathematics, well above the England average of 8%. Reading and mathematics scaled scores are also strong (109 and 108).

On FindMySchool’s rankings based on official data, Merryhills is ranked 593rd in England for primary outcomes and 4th across Enfield. That places it well above England average (top 10%).

For families thinking about admissions, demand is the first headline. Reception entry is oversubscribed, with 308 applications for 90 offers in the most recent cycle, which works out at 3.42 applications per place. The last distance offered was 1.254 miles in 2024. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

Leadership is long-standing. Richard Hudson is named as headteacher, and Attigo Academy Trust describes him as headteacher since 2019.

This is a large primary, so the feel matters. The school’s own language places values at the centre of daily routines, and it backs that up with clear structures: a published programme of assemblies includes singing assemblies led by musical staff, plus values-focused sessions linked to relationships, sex and health education themes. That blend tends to suit children who like a predictable rhythm to the week, with regular moments to perform, reflect and share learning.

A three-form entry model can be impersonal when it is poorly organised. Here, the evidence points the other way: the enrichment model is deliberately staged across year groups, with frequent chances for pupils to practise speaking and performing. Class assemblies run weekly on a dedicated stage space, and productions are mapped through the school, from a Reception festive sing-along to a Year 6 end-of-year production.

Outdoor learning is not presented as an occasional treat. Forest School is described as a specialist approach that focuses on skills learned outside, using child-led sessions that include practical elements such as den building and knot tying, plus structured work on safe tool and fire use. For many pupils, that kind of curriculum offers a second route to confidence, especially for those who learn best through hands-on tasks rather than worksheets.

Merryhills also has a clear sense of continuity. The school opened in 1940 and has expanded and modernised over time, while staying on the same spacious site. That long local presence can matter for families looking for stability and a school that feels rooted in its community.

The data points to an academically strong primary.

Attainment at the expected standard (Key Stage 2, 2024)

• Reading, writing and mathematics combined: 92.33%, versus 62% across England.

• Science: 88%, versus 82% across England.

Higher standard

• Greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics combined: 40.67%, versus 8% across England.

Scaled scores (Key Stage 2, 2024)

• Reading: 109

• Mathematics: 108

• Grammar, punctuation and spelling: 112

• Total reading, mathematics and GPS score: 329

These figures suggest two things at once. First, most pupils are secure on the basics by the end of Year 6. Second, a sizeable group are pushed beyond the expected standard, which often indicates a curriculum and assessment approach that keeps higher-attaining pupils moving rather than waiting.

On FindMySchool’s rankings (based on official data), Merryhills is ranked 593rd in England and 4th in Enfield for primary outcomes. For parents comparing local options, that means results are well above England average, placing the school in the top 10% nationally.

If you are using FindMySchool to build a shortlist, the Local Hub comparison tools are useful here, because Merryhills’ profile is clearer than most primaries, and you can benchmark it against nearby schools without relying on hearsay.

The curriculum appears to take “core plus enrichment” seriously, rather than treating foundation subjects as add-ons.

One distinctive feature is Philosophy for Children (P4C), positioned as a structured forum for open dialogue where pupils consider “big questions” and practise debate in a safe environment. This is more than a one-off club, it is described as a curriculum element that helps pupils develop opinions, listen properly, and handle disagreement constructively.

Music provision is unusually specific for a state primary. Whole-class instrumental teaching is set out year by year: glockenspiels in Year 2, recorders in Year 3, violins in Year 4, and ukulele through Years 5 and 6. A smaller group may also be offered an extended flute and clarinet pathway. For parents, the implication is practical as well as educational: regular instrument learning can build discipline and confidence, and it can reveal aptitude early without families needing to organise everything privately.

Outdoor learning, again, is integrated rather than occasional. Forest School sessions are described as experiential, aiming to equip children with practical skills that transfer back into classroom learning, while also building appreciation of the natural world.

For a primary, “next steps” is really about transition, confidence, and finding the right secondary route.

Merryhills does not position itself as a selective pipeline, and there is no evidence of an exam-prep identity in the published material. That will suit families who want strong attainment without an atmosphere dominated by tutoring culture. At the same time, the KS2 outcomes suggest that higher-attaining pupils are common, so it is reasonable to expect that some families will explore selective or partially selective options elsewhere in the wider area, even if that is not the school’s defining story.

The most reliable way to plan transition is to start with geography and admissions rules, not reputation. Enfield’s secondary transfer is coordinated through the local authority, and outcomes depend on distance, criteria and the pattern of preferences each year. If you are already thinking ahead, it is worth using FindMySchoolMap Search to understand realistic travel times and how different secondary criteria might play out for your address.

Reception entry is coordinated by Enfield, and Merryhills makes clear that applications are processed through the local authority.

For September 2026 entry, Merryhills states that the cohort is children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022, with full information published via Enfield in the autumn term. Enfield’s published deadline for on-time applications is 15 January 2026, with outcomes available on 16 April 2026.

Competition is the story. The most recent admissions data shows:

• 308 applications for 90 offers

• 3.42 applications per place

• First-preference pressure is also high (1.09 first preferences per first-preference offer)

Distance matters in oversubscription years. In 2024, the last distance offered was 1.254 miles. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

School tours are presented as part of the decision process, with tours described as starting from September and led by the headteacher or another senior leader, with booking via the school website when available.

Pastoral systems are easiest to judge when a school explains who holds safeguarding responsibility and how pupils are supported day to day.

Merryhills publishes a clearly defined safeguarding team structure, naming a lead Designated Safeguarding Lead, alongside senior leaders who act as safeguarding officers. That clarity matters for parents, because it signals accountability and a culture where safeguarding is treated as a whole-school responsibility rather than a single individual’s role.

Wider wellbeing is reinforced through routine, particularly assemblies that explicitly tie into values education and relationships, sex and health education topics across the year. The P4C approach also supports emotional literacy in an indirect way, by helping pupils practise talking about complex ideas, listening carefully, and changing their minds without losing face.

A large primary can either feel transactional or full of opportunity. Here, the co-curricular offer is described with enough specificity to suggest it is a genuine part of school life, rather than a brochure list.

Sport is a pillar. The school lists football, netball, rugby, cricket, choir and cross country among its extra-curricular programme, plus after-school provision run by external agencies such as karate, art and French. What lifts this above the generic is the way competitive sport is framed: the school references borough and partnership events, including district athletics at Lea Valley, football tournaments at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground, tag rugby at Enfield Old Ignatians RFC, and the London Youth Games at Crystal Palace. For pupils, the implication is that sport is not just participation, it can include structured competition for those who want it, with the motivational lift that comes from representing the school.

Music, again, is unusually well-mapped. The instrumental programme is clearly staged across year groups, and choir activity is visible through participation in local festivals (for example, an Enfield Music Service choirs festival hosted at a local church venue). Regular performance points also run through enrichment planning, with year-group productions and concerts laid out across the calendar.

Outdoor learning provides a different kind of extension. Forest School sessions include practical skill-building, with pupils learning safe tool use, den building and knot tying, which can be especially confidence-building for children who prefer learning by doing.

Merryhills runs a soft start: gates open from 8.40am to 8.50am, and the school day finishes at 3.20pm. Wraparound care is established. Breakfast Club starts from 7.45am, and Tea Time Club runs until 5.45pm. The school publishes session pricing for these clubs, which is useful for budgeting: Breakfast Club is £3.50 per session and Tea Time Club is £10.50 per session (with higher rates for late booking).

Travel at peak times is a live issue locally. Enfield introduced a School Streets scheme for the area, with the Merryhills zone stated to operate 8.15am to 9.15am and 3.00pm to 4.00pm on weekdays during term time, covering specific nearby streets. For parents who drive, that means checking restrictions carefully and planning for a park-and-walk approach.

• Entry is competitive. With 308 applications for 90 Reception offers in the most recent cycle, this is not a school you can treat as a low-risk preference. The last distance offered was 1.254 miles in 2024. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

• Inspection evidence is not recent. The most recent Ofsted inspection information available relates to the predecessor school and is a short inspection from April 2018 that confirmed the school as Good. A conversion letter was published in December 2023 following academy conversion, and a newer full inspection may supersede this in time.

• A big school feels big. Three-form entry brings social breadth and lots of activity, but some children prefer smaller settings where everyone knows everyone. It is worth looking at class size, routines and support systems when you visit.

• Travel restrictions at pick-up and drop-off. Local School Streets arrangements mean some roads near the school gates may be restricted during peak times. That can make walking and scooting easier, but it can also complicate driving plans.

Merryhills is an academically strong Enfield primary with evidence of serious enrichment, particularly in music, sport and outdoor learning. Results place it well above England average, and the wider programme is described with enough detail to suggest pupils really do get to perform, compete and learn beyond the classroom. Best suited to families who want high attainment in a large, organised school, and who are comfortable with competitive local admissions. Securing entry is where the difficulty lies.