Christ Church Church of England Primary School, Shooters Hill: A Community School with Outstanding Personal Development

One-form entry means approximately 30 pupils per year group, a scale that allows staff to know every child thoroughly while maintaining enough cohort size for genuine friendship groups to flourish. The school ranks 651st in England for Key Stage 2 results, placing it in the top 5% nationally (FindMySchool ranking). Reading scaled scores average 111 compared to the England average of 100. Mathematics scaled scores stand at 108. These figures translate to 86% of pupils meeting expected standards in reading, writing and mathematics combined, significantly above the 62% England average.

Mrs Anne-Marie Bahlol has led the school since January 2020, arriving from a senior leadership role in Oxford. She replaced Claire Laver, who moved to lead Priory Primary School in Bicknacre. Under current leadership, the school achieved Good across most areas in its latest Ofsted inspection (November 2023), with a remarkable Outstanding rating for personal development.

The school's Church of England foundation shapes daily practice without being doctrinaire. Values centre on community, respect, and spiritual growth. Collective worship happens regularly, and religious education is taught as a discrete subject with breadth.

This is a purposeful school with calm behaviour and clear expectations. Recent Ofsted findings noted that pupils in reading experience a broad spectrum of texts which ignites their enthusiasm for literature and enables discussions around books. Older pupils set positive examples for younger ones, and the school invests in roles of responsibility where Year 6 pupils take on leadership.

The school occupies a multi-level site, with classrooms, playgrounds and offices accessible via a combination of steps, ramps and lifts. This site topography shapes the school's relationship with the surrounding terrain. Beyond the gates, Shooters Hill's wooded areas provide outdoor learning spaces. The local area is relatively affluent, though the school serves families of genuine diversity: 55% of the intake are pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Staff know their families well and respond quickly to identify children requiring additional support. Attendance rates remain positive, supported by early intervention when absence occurs. The school holds the Travel for Life Gold Accreditation (2023-2026), indicating commitment to sustainable transport and community wellbeing.

Key Stage 2 Performance

The school's 2024 KS2 results demonstrate consistent strength across the three core subjects. 86% of pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared to the England average of 62%. This represents a margin of 24%age points above the national benchmark.

Reading: 93% of pupils reached expected standard, with 62% achieving greater depth. The scaled score of 111 indicates strong progress beyond baseline expectations.

Mathematics: 83% achieved expected standard, with 48% at greater depth. The scaled score of 108 again exceeds England average.

Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling: 86% reached expected standard, with 59% achieving higher standard. The scaled score of 110 is the strongest discipline.

Science: 86% achieved expected standard, matching the England average.

The school's England ranking of 651st (top 5% nationally) reflects consistent results over several years. Locally, Christ Church ranks 5th among Greenwich primaries, placing it in the city's stronger cohort (FindMySchool data). The progress scores demonstrate that pupils make above-average gains from their Key Stage 1 starting points.

The curriculum reflects the school's stated ambition to be "rich and ambitious," with intentional connections to the outdoors and local area. Art is a discrete, sequenced subject with attention to techniques and artists. Music is taught to all pupils, with many learning instruments. Design and Technology, Drama and Dance are integrated into broader thematic work rather than taught as separate subjects.

Reading receives high-level attention. Teachers expose pupils to diverse literature, with discussion and comprehension at the heart of teaching. Reading progression is structured, and guided reading happens daily in most year groups. The school has invested in phonics teaching and continues to support later reading confidence through book discussion.

Mathematics follows the national curriculum with explicit teaching and guided practice. Pupils are set by ability from Year 4 onwards. The school uses structured reasoning and problem-solving alongside fluency work. Staff feedback indicates that teaching is generally secure, though Ofsted noted that checking understanding needs to extend more consistently to all pupils in some lessons.

Modern Foreign Languages begin in Year 1 (French primarily), taught by a specialist, which is uncommon at primary level. This early introduction to language learning reflects the school's ambition.

Religious Education is taught as a discrete subject with breadth across Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Humanism. The school's Church of England character is woven through collective worship and explicit teaching about faith, without requiring pupils to adopt any faith position.

As a primary school, the majority of pupils transition to secondary within Greenwich, with Saint Mary Magdalene Church of England All Through School, Eltham Hill School, and Harris Academy Greenwich among the most common destinations. The school provides information about selective grammar options (particularly Reading School and Kendrick School) and supports Year 5/6 pupils in understanding the 11-plus pathway, though the school does not provide intensive preparation.

The school's extracurricular life reflects its one-form entry structure: something for most interests, though not endless choice. Activity clubs run daily from 3:30pm to 4:30pm for up to 10 sessions per term, rotating termly to provide variety.

Music Programme

Music is actively encouraged across the school. Many pupils learn instruments, with lessons available onsite. The school operates a choir, and musical ensembles perform at school events and in the local community. Celebration assemblies include musical performances, and the school participates in local music festivals.

Clubs & Societies

The school offers a diverse range of clubs, including:

Chess Club: Popular with pupils who enjoy strategic thinking and competition. The school participates in local chess competitions.

Cookery Club: Enables pupils to develop practical life skills and food understanding. Clubs rotate, with cooking projects connected to curriculum topics.

Taekwondo: Provides martial arts training with a focus on discipline, respect and physical fitness.

Drama Club: Pupils develop performance confidence through scenes, scripts and improvisation.

Languages Club: Beyond the Year 1 French curriculum, interested pupils can deepen their language learning.

Gardening Club: Pupils grow vegetables and plants, tending raised beds on the school grounds. This connects to science, sustainability and outdoor learning.

Art & Craft: Pupils engage in extended creative projects including drawing, painting, sculpture and textile work.

Beyond these structured clubs, the school emphasises outdoor learning. Staff and pupils regularly use the local wooded areas adjacent to Shooters Hill for observation, exploration and environmental learning. The school promotes a culture where children can develop resilience and curiosity through unstructured outdoor time.

Specialist Opportunities

Hever Castle Triathlon: The school organises an annual residential or day event at Hever Castle where Year 5/6 pupils train for and compete in a triathlon (200m swim, 4.2km cycle, 1.3km run). This event doubles as a fundraiser for school improvements, with recent funds directed towards a new sensory room, hall furniture and video equipment. The experience embodies the school's emphasis on resilience and teamwork.

School Productions: The school stages whole-school performances, particularly at Christmas. These involve significant casting, rehearsal and ensemble work. Drama is integrated into classroom learning as well as extracurricular activity.

Sports: PE is taught as a discrete subject, with two lessons per week the norm. The school participates in inter-school fixtures and local competitions. Swimming is taught in Year 3-6. Football, netball, athletics and cross-country are organised seasonally.

Arts Programme

Art and music are taught as subjects to all pupils, not integrated into topic work. The school particularly values the visual arts: the Ofsted report specifically highlighted the sequenced approach to teaching art around essential techniques and notable artists. Pupils engage with real artists' work, practise techniques systematically, and create final outcomes with intention. This approach differs from schools where art is topic-driven and less structured.

This is a highly oversubscribed school. In 2024, the school received 109 applications for 29 places, a ratio of 3.76 applicants per place. It is one of the five most oversubscribed primary schools for Reception entry in Greenwich.

The last distance offered was 0.361 miles in 2024, reflecting the school's desirability and the tightness of the catchment. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

Admissions follow the standard Church of England voluntary aided criteria: looked-after children first, then children of Christian faith (with evidence of church attendance, typically through the school's supplementary form), then siblings of current pupils, then distance from school. A small percentage of places may go to children of other faiths or no faith if spaces remain after these criteria are met.

The school is on the highest point of Shooters Hill, accessible by steep footpaths and surrounding roads. The location is not served by direct bus routes, so most families walk or drive.

School Hours & Wraparound Care

The school day runs from 8:50am to 3:20pm. Breakfast Club and After School Club are provided by Alpha Childcare (an independent contractor based on-site) from 7:30am to 6:15pm, allowing flexible working patterns for families. Holiday clubs also operate during school breaks. These wraparound provisions are essential given that most families do not live within immediate walking distance.

Uniform is expected and the school maintains clear expectations about appearance (shoes clean and polished, standard uniform worn). The uniform policy is traditional but not unusual for primary schools in London.

Transport

The school is located at the crest of Shooters Hill, roughly equidistant from Eltham Station (1.7km) and Woolwich stations (2.5km). Most families arrive by car, given the steep terrain and lack of direct bus routes. Walking is possible from closer residential areas, but from distance can be challenging given the topography. Cycles are accommodated on-site.

The school provides a walking map for families, signposting safe pedestrian routes. It holds the Travel for Life Gold Accreditation, indicating commitment to active and sustainable travel and education about local transport options.

Lunches & Meal Provision

School lunches are provided daily. Free school meals are available to eligible pupils (those in receipt of certain state benefits). A small number of pupils bring packed lunches; the school accommodates both options. Allergy information and dietary requirements are carefully managed.

The school's Outstanding rating for personal development in the latest Ofsted inspection reflects genuine investment in pupils' wider growth. Beyond academic learning, the school focusses on:

Emotional wellbeing: A trained counsellor visits weekly to support children needing emotional or behavioural help. The school has created a new sensory room (recently funded through community fundraising efforts like the Hever Castle Triathlon) to provide a calming space for pupils who need to regulate.

Special Educational Needs: A full-time SENCo (Laura Simpson, also Deputy Headteacher) coordinates provision for approximately 45 pupils on the SEN register. The school has internal lifts and ramps to enable physical access. Some staff have received additional training in SEND provision. The school notes it does not have specialist units but welcomes children with a range of needs and adapts teaching accordingly.

Behaviour & Conduct: Behaviour is calm and orderly. Older pupils take roles of responsibility (e.g., playground buddies, house captains). The school uses a structured reward and consequence system that references the school's values of respect, perseverance and resilience.

Family Engagement: Parents are welcomed into school life. The Parents and Friends Association (PaFA) organises fundraising and social events. The school holds regular parent consultations and provides detailed feedback on progress.

Safeguarding: The school is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare. All staff receive training, and safer recruitment procedures are in place. The school has a designated lead for safeguarding and clear reporting pathways.

Tight catchment and oversubscription. With a last distance offered of 0.361 miles, securing a place requires living very close to the school. Families from distance should not rely on gaining admission and should explore alternatives. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

Hilltop location and transport. The school's position at the top of Shooters Hill is part of its charm and isolation. Steep terrain means most families drive, and the morning and afternoon queues on the narrow approach roads are notable. Families without cars or living at distance will find logistics challenging, despite Alpha Childcare wraparound provision extending the school day.

Selective admissions criteria. While not selective by academic ability, the Church of England character means families active in the church community are prioritised. Families of other faiths or no faith are not excluded, but evidence of commitment to a Church of England parish (typically through the supplementary admission form) carries weight. Families uncomfortable with this ethos should clarify the policy before applying.

Balanced Ofsted outcome. The school was rated Good overall with an Outstanding rating for personal development (November 2023). This is a positive outcome but represents a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2009. While the school maintains strong standards, parents should review the full inspection report to understand the specific areas flagged for development (particularly around ensuring checks on understanding reach all pupils).

Christ Church offers a genuinely good primary education underpinned by a secure Church of England ethos, strong results and a commitment to character development. The small one-form entry scale means pupils know one another well and staff understand individual needs intimately. Results place the school among England's stronger primaries, and the Ofsted rating for personal development testifies to the breadth of experience on offer. Best suited to families within the tight catchment who value a faith-based school and can manage the hilltop location. The main barriers to entry are the oversubscription and tight distance criterion. For those who secure places, the education is accomplished.