Eltham Church of England Primary School Review 2026: Strong Community Learning in Historic Eltham

When the first pupils walked through the doors in April 1814, the school opened to 76 boys and 61 girls, starting a tradition that has endured for over two centuries. Today, Eltham Church of England Primary serves the same Eltham community with similar values of commitment and care, though now as a mixed two-form entry school with nursery provision. The latest Ofsted inspection (November 2022) confirmed what many local families already know: this is a Good school with Outstanding behaviour and attitudes, where children learn in a Christian setting that welcomes families of all faiths and none. Year on year, approximately 89% of pupils meet expected standards in reading, writing, and mathematics by the end of Key Stage 2, placing the school ranks 606th in England for primary performance (FindMySchool ranking), and 3rd among 87 primaries in Greenwich. With over three applications for every place and strong demand that shows no sign of weakening, entry to the school is fiercely competitive.

The school describes itself as the "Eltham Family," and that language reflects how the community genuinely operates. Staff expect high standards of behaviour from pupils from the earliest years, and the reward is a calm, purposeful environment where children move between lessons with quiet focus. Behaviour is exceptional, as Ofsted inspectors observed. The Christian values that underpin the school — Love, Resilience, Forgiveness, Understanding, Enthusiasm, Respect — are not displayed merely as posters. They shape daily decisions around how conflicts are handled, how struggling pupils are supported, and how different backgrounds are celebrated.

Headteacher Ms Maryanne Boon, who arrived in November 2025, brings a fresh perspective after a headship at Fulham Primary School. Her predecessor, Matthew Wills, led the school through a significant period of development. Under this leadership, the school maintained its reputation as a stable, forward-thinking institution rooted in Christian tradition yet genuinely inclusive of all communities. The staff team includes experienced practitioners who know the local area intimately; continuity is an asset here.

The physical environment reflects the school's long history. The Victorian building has been thoughtfully extended and upgraded over decades, creating a campus that balances period character with modern spaces. The 446 pupils are distributed across year groups in a two-form entry structure, large enough for social breadth and diverse experiences, yet small enough that staff know each child as an individual.

KS2 Academic Performance

Performance is consistently strong. In 2024, 89% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and mathematics combined, against the England average of 62%. This represents a significant advantage: pupils at Eltham are substantially outperforming peers nationally. Breaking down the individual areas, reading achieved 90% at expected standard (England 71%), writing reached 88% expected standard, and mathematics also achieved 88% (England 75%). These are solid, above-average outcomes.

At the higher level of achievement, 43% of pupils reached greater depth across reading, writing, and mathematics, compared to the England average of just 8%. This gap is particularly striking and indicates the school is successfully stretching its highest attainers. The scaled scores reinforce this: reading averaged 109 (England 100), mathematics 109 (England 100), and grammar, punctuation, spelling hit 111 (England 100). All three exceed the national benchmark.

The school ranks 606th in England for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 4% nationally (top 2% to 10% band). Locally, it ranks 3rd among Greenwich primaries, a position that reflects consistent delivery of strong results year after year.

The curriculum is ambitious and broad. French begins in Year 1, a deliberate choice to build language skills from an early age. Year 3 pupils learn djembe and ukulele through the Royal Greenwich Music Service, embedding music tuition into normal provision. The Ofsted report confirmed that "the school ensures that all subjects of the national curriculum are taught, with ambitious goals for pupil achievement."

The school launched a new phonics programme at the start of the academic year, with appropriate staff training. Daily catch-up sessions support pupils who need additional help with reading. Year 5 pupils explored reduction printing techniques and foam sheet incisions inspired by Andy Warhol and John Brunsdon, demonstrating how art is taught with reference to real artists and specific techniques rather than generic "creativity." History and English are integrated; a WWII project had Year 5 pupils working with a filmmaker from SMASH TV, given smart-cameras to produce mini documentaries.

Teaching follows clear structures and high expectations. The Ofsted report noted that expectations are established from an early age, particularly around routines and hard work. Classrooms are organized environments where learning is the priority.

The school maintains strong pastoral systems. Each class has a dedicated teaching assistant alongside the class teacher, enabling responsive support. The special educational needs coordinator works to coordinate provision for pupils on the SEN register. A trained counsellor visits the school weekly to provide additional emotional support where needed.

The Worship Committee, led by pupils, takes responsibility for leading collective worship and composing prayers for whole-school services. This gives children genuine agency in the school's spiritual life. The school works closely with Eltham Parish Church (St John the Baptist), with pupils attending carol services, Christmas nativity performances at the church, and regular collective worship. Reverend Caroline provides direct support and oversight.

Behaviour systems are consistent and understood. Pupils exhibit what inspectors described as "exceptional behaviour and a positive attitude towards learning." This doesn't happen by accident; it reflects deliberate, sustained leadership and staff consistency.

Music: Central to School Life

The school choir performs regularly at community events, including the annual Eltham Lights Up festival, where they drew "quite a crowd" and enjoyed applause. The Christmas Carol Service features the school choir's arrangements (such as their "Little Drummer Boy" with live djembe), alongside pupil-led Bible readings and prayers composed by the Worship Committee. Year 1 pupils performed "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" at the Christmas nativity, while Year 2 delivered the full nativity story at Eltham Parish Church. These are meaningful performance opportunities, not add-ons.

The royal Greenwich Music Service partnership provides structured weekly tuition. Year 3 pupils access djembe and ukulele lessons during curriculum time, building music literacy alongside performance confidence. The school identifies pupils with musical aptitude and encourages progression to other instruments.

Drama and Performance

Year 2 pupils perform the nativity story annually at Eltham Parish Church, with costuming and stage direction shared among staff and parents. Year 1 performs "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" as part of the same event. A Christmas pantomime (Dick Whittington by Chaplin's Pantos) was performed in December, attended by all pupils. Carols by Candlelight, held on the last day of the autumn term, brought the whole school together for a celebratory end to a long term.

The school hosts a Christmas Fair each year featuring parent and PTA involvement. Recent fairs included inflatables, face painting, henna application, a racing car simulator, and a visit with Father Christmas in a grotto. The PTA is described as working "tirelessly for months" to prepare such events, indicating strong parental engagement and community spirit.

Sports and Physical Partnership

All pupils in Upper Key Stage 2 are invited on a stadium tour of The Valley (Charlton Athletic's ground), where children learn the history of the club and its players. This partnership brings local professional football into the curriculum. Children learn both about the club's heritage and modern professional operations. Sport is prioritized; a variety of sports are offered (Ofsted noted this specifically), with physical education built into the weekly timetable.

The school appoints Year 5 and Year 6 TFL Travel Ambassadors, who promote safe, active, and sustainable travel within the school community. Recent ambassadors attended a convention at The Valley Stadium, participated in a fitness workshop, and met the Mayor of Greenwich, Linda Bird. This initiative embeds transport awareness and civic engagement into the upper primary years.

Arts and Creativity

Year 5 pupils studied printmaking using reduction techniques on foam sheets, inspired by artists like Andy Warhol. The results, displayed with pride, show "creativity and attention to detail." Reception pupils explored "Journey" as a topic, learning about professions through a visiting parent (a Black Taxi Driver) who brought his cab to school and explained "The Knowledge"—the three-year study required to become a licensed London cabbie. Year 4 pupils have been enjoying the French story "La Belle au Bois Dormant" (Sleeping Beauty), using a French dictionary to look up fruit and vegetables, and learning to tell the time in French.

Year 5 pupils attended The O2 in Greenwich twice for the British Film Institute's British Film Festival, watching "The Sloth Lane" and "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," with popcorn and snacks. This exposure to film as an art form and medium is typical of how the school embeds cultural experiences.

Religious Education and Values

Religious education is taught across the school, integrating Christian theology with respect for other faiths. The Ofsted report confirmed that the school "ensures that all subjects of the national curriculum are taught," with religious education as a core component. Collective worship happens daily. The school maintains links with Eltham Parish Church, attending services and hosting visitors such as Reverend Caroline.

School Council and Pupil Voice

Year 6 pupils take on leadership roles as Play Leaders, helping younger children during play and lunch times. The Worship Committee (composed of pupils) writes prayers and leads collective worship. The school explicitly values "pupil voice," with structures in place for children to have agency in how the school operates.

The school is consistently oversubscribed. In the most recent admissions cycle, the school received 193 applications for just 57 Reception places, a ratio of 3.39 applications per place. This means roughly two-thirds of applicants will not secure a place. Entry is decided primarily by distance from the school gates (after looked-after children and those with existing siblings), making proximity the critical factor.

The school operates a two-form entry model, accepting approximately 60 pupils per year group into Reception. Admission also includes a nursery intake (ages 3-5), though progression from nursery to Reception is not automatic; families still compete for Reception places through the standard Greenwich local authority admissions process.

The application process runs through Greenwich local authority coordinated admissions. Families wishing to apply should register with Greenwich, provide proof of address, and await the allocation outcome. The school welcomes applications from families of all faiths or of no faith; it operates some limited faith-based selection within its admissions criteria, though the extent of this weighting is less than in some other Church schools.

Open mornings are held every Tuesday at 09:30 during term time, with school tours available. Families interested should call the school office on 020 8850 1528 to book an appointment.

The school includes a nursery for pupils aged 3 to 5. Children in the nursery are taught by qualified practitioners and follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. The nursery is integrated into the main school building, allowing younger children to experience the broader school environment, assemblies, and community events.

Nursery fees are available on the school website. Government-funded early years hours (15 or 30 hours for eligible three and four-year-olds) are available. For detailed pricing and eligibility information, families should contact the school directly or visit the school website.

School Hours and Wraparound Care

The school day runs from 8:50am to 3:20pm. Breakfast club begins at 7:45am for families needing earlier drop-off. After-school club (Alpha Club) operates until 6pm, providing wraparound care for working families. Holiday club runs during main school holidays, enabling continuity of provision during longer breaks.

Location and Access

The school is located on Roper Street in Eltham, in the Royal Borough of Greenwich (London postcode SE9 1TR). The area is served by local bus routes and is within walking distance for families in the immediate neighbourhood. Eltham is approximately 15 miles southeast of central London. The school does not provide transport; families arrange their own travel or use local authority special educational needs transport if applicable.

School Lunches and Meals

School lunches are provided by Chartwells. Children can bring packed lunches if preferred. The school describes lunch arrangements as well-organised, with Year 6 Play Leaders supporting younger pupils during meal times.

Oversubscription and Entry Challenge. With 3.39 applications per place, gaining a place is challenging. Distance is the determining factor, meaning families must live very close to the school to have a realistic chance. Families outside the local area are unlikely to be offered a place. If the school is appealing, prospective families should verify whether their home address is within a realistic distance before planning around it.

Limited Nursery-to-Reception Progression. While the school has a nursery, progression from nursery to Reception is not guaranteed. Families using the nursery must still apply for Reception through the standard admissions process and compete against all other applicants. This means costs for nursery care may not translate automatically into a Reception place.

Church of England Character and Worship. The school is a Church of England voluntary-aided institution with genuine Christian ethos. Collective worship happens daily, including regular visits to Eltham Parish Church. Families uncomfortable with Christian worship, prayer, or Bible stories should carefully consider whether this environment suits their child. The school welcomes families of all faiths and none, but the Christian character is central to the school's identity.

Ambitious Curriculum Intensity. The school delivers an ambitious curriculum and has high expectations for behaviour and work ethic from an early age. Pupils are expected to settle into focused learning from Reception onwards. Families seeking a more play-focused early primary experience may find the structured approach here more formal than they prefer.

Eltham Church of England Primary is a strong, well-established school delivering consistently good outcomes in a community setting that emphasizes behaviour, respect, and belonging. The 200-year history is not mere nostalgia; it reflects genuine continuity of purpose and values. Results place the school comfortably above national averages, particularly for higher attainers. The Christian ethos is authentic without being exclusive of other backgrounds. Best suited to families living within close proximity to the school who value traditional, structured primary education within a Church of England context and who are comfortable with daily worship and explicit Christian teaching.

The primary barrier to access is the fierce oversubscription and distance-based allocation. Families must weigh whether they genuinely live close enough to have a realistic chance before investing time in an application.