Wendell Park Primary School Review 2026: Excellence Through Tradition

The bells at Wendell Park Primary ring out across Shepherds Bush much as they did when the Victorian school opened on 22 November 1901. The solid red-brick building, designed by architect Thomas J. Bailey, still dominates Cobbold Road, its terracotta ornaments gleaming against the London sky. Today, this historic institution serves 396 pupils aged 3-11 with results that place it in the elite tier nationally. The school ranks 85th in England for primary achievement, situating it in the top 2% of schools across the country (FindMySchool ranking), and third locally within Hammersmith and Fulham. This is a school where 124 years of institutional confidence combines with contemporary educational ambition. Pupils achieve at exceptional levels without sacrificing the joy of childhood learning.

Walking through the gates at 8:40am reveals an orderly community at ease with itself. Children stream into classrooms with purpose. There is no anxiety here, no frantic tutoring culture, no sense that education is transactional. Instead, the atmosphere speaks to genuine inclusion and respect. The school's core values — caring, challenge, cooperation, confidence and celebration — are not posted slogans but lived principles.

David Collins has led the school as Executive Headteacher since August 2021, overseeing a federation of three primary schools: Brackenbury, Kenmont and Wendell Park. His appointment from a London day school headship signalled a commitment to contemporary practice rooted in pedagogical strength rather than legacy alone. The staff work collaboratively across the federation, sharing expertise to benefit all pupils.

The building itself tells stories. The south wall bears the date 1900, engraved as proof of the architects' confidence. Inside, classrooms surround a central hall as Victorian designers intended. More recent additions speak to evolving needs: the 1950s extension, the 2011-12 work by De Metz Forbes Knight creating new nursery and reception spaces, and the wooden structures added to outdoor play areas (outdoor kitchen, theatre, climbing apparatus, gazebo) through the efforts of Friends of Wendell Park. Despite the layers of addition, the school retains its original character — a place where history inhabits walls and children thrive.

Primary Achievement (Key Stage 2)

Wendell Park achieved results in 2024 that place it in the highest echelon of primary schools nationally. 88% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, significantly above the England average of 62%. At the higher standard (scaled scores of 110+ in reading and maths, greater depth in writing), 41% of pupils achieved distinction, compared to the England average of 8%. This represents performance more than five times the national rate.

Individual subject performance is equally strong. Reading scaled scores averaged 110 (England average: 100); mathematics 110 (England average: 100); and grammar, punctuation and spelling 116 (England average: 100). 83% of pupils achieved the highest standard in grammar and punctuation. These are not exceptional anomalies but consistent patterns reflecting structured teaching and high expectations.

The school's ranking reflects this consistency. It ranks 85th in England and third in Hammersmith and Fulham for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it among the elite tier nationally (top 2% of schools in England). This performance represents the culmination of careful curriculum design, specialist staffing and assessment practices that identify gaps early.

The curriculum at Wendell Park is ambitious and carefully sequenced. Leaders have identified key knowledge and vocabulary from Nursery through Year 6, ensuring each year builds on prior learning logically. In geography, for example, early learners map through storytelling, which translates to creating simple maps in Year 1. In mathematics, foundational counting underpins later operations. This scaffolding enables pupils with complex ideas to make sense of advanced content.

French begins in Year 1, taught by specialist staff. Key Stage 2 pupils participate in two hours of physical education weekly, including swimming lessons that meet curriculum requirements. A phonics programme is delivered with consistency, and structured assessment identifies pupils at risk of falling behind early, triggering targeted support to help them catch up.

The school recognises that in a small number of subjects, teachers do not consistently check pupils' learning, which occasionally allows misconceptions to go uncorrected. This has been identified and is being addressed through professional development.

Most pupils transition to nearby state secondary schools, with some moving to selective grammar schools. The school provides familiarisation sessions with 11-plus style questions, though not intensive tutoring. Families seeking structured grammar school preparation typically arrange external support. In recent years, a small but steady cohort of pupils have secured places at selective secondary institutions.

The school works closely with secondary colleagues on transition, arranging visits and ensuring pupils are prepared emotionally and academically for the next phase.

Music: A Central Pillar

Music at Wendell Park is far more than an accidental pleasure. It is woven throughout the school day from Nursery onwards, led by a specialist music teacher with expertise in vocals, guitar and choral singing. The school currently runs two KS2 guitar clubs at lunchtime and a KS2 choir, with a KS1 choir beginning later in the academic year. Weekly singing assemblies bring the entire school together, using voice alongside body percussion and instrument playing to build musical community.

The school's partnerships with cultural institutions amplify this work. The Tri-Borough Music Hub supports a project called "Brass is Back," in which Year 5 pupils receive free weekly trombone and trumpet lessons. The Royal College of Music Sparks department works with early years children through movement-based music sessions led by a Dalcrose specialist. Individual instrumental tuition through Pelican Music is available for those seeking one-to-one learning. Christmas performances, the Festival of Light, the Year 6 play, and visits to Royal College of Music lunchtime concerts ensure that school music connects to the wider cultural landscape.

Whole-class instrumental playing is embedded from Key Stage 1 onwards. Pupils access the ukulele, ocarina, djembe drums, boom whackers and glockenspiels, developing practical skill alongside listening literacy. The curriculum follows the Kapow Primary scheme, ensuring progression against national standards while allowing creativity to flourish.

Physical Education and Sports

PE is compulsory and appears twice weekly for all pupils. The school follows the GetSet4PE scheme, providing structured progression across the year groups. Two whole-school sports weeks and an annual Sports Day provide opportunity for all pupils to participate in competitive and recreational activity. School games competitions within the Hammersmith and Fulham borough engage multiple year groups in rugby, netball, football, athletics and other sports. Year 5 and 6 pupils attend a dedicated swimming programme throughout the school year.

Extra-curricular provision ensures inclusive participation. Clubs are offered before and after school, designed to appeal to all pupils rather than elite athletes alone.

Arts and Wider Creativity

Pupils across the school engage in art, design and technology through a structured curriculum. Opportunities for drama include Christmas performances, class assemblies and the Year 6 production. The computing curriculum develops skills in coding and digital literacy. Design and technology teaches practical skills through project-based learning.

Enrichment and Partnerships

The school partners with West London Zone Charity, English National Opera House, Mind, Chelsea Football Club and Pelican Music to extend pupil experiences beyond the school day. A community music module connects classroom learning to a local care centre, allowing pupils to explore the social impact of their music making. Forest School sessions provide weekly outdoor learning in Nursery and Reception, building physical strength, coordination and environmental understanding.

The "Enabling Enterprise" strand within the curriculum develops entrepreneurial skills. The School Council provides leadership and voice. A rich after-school clubs programme, coordinated by Aktiva Camps, offers art, science, construction, dance and sports activities. Most school-run clubs are charged at £30 per term; external providers typically charge £50 per term.

The drama group Ghost Dance Troupe runs a Key Stage 2 after-school club. Year 6 pupils perform a major production, the Christmas show features the whole school, and singing assemblies celebrate ensemble performance.

Admissions to Reception are coordinated through Hammersmith and Fulham Local Authority, not directly through the school. The school is oversubscribed, receiving approximately 118 applications for approximately 58 places in the primary entry route. The last distance offered in the primary admissions round reflects high demand, though the exact distance varies annually based on applicant distribution. Families should verify their proximity to the school with the local authority before deciding on secondary transfer.

Applications for Reception entry typically close on 15 January for September entry. Nursery admissions are handled separately. Open events for prospective families are held typically in October and November; specific dates for this academic year can be obtained by telephoning the school office on 020 8743 1372.

The school day begins at 8:50am and concludes at 3:20pm. Breakfast club operates from 7:45am, and after-school care is provided by Aktiva Camps until 6:15pm. Holiday club operates during main school holidays.

Transport links to the school are good. The nearest tube stations are Shepherds Bush (Central Line, approximately 10 minutes walk) and Goldhawk Road (District Line, approximately 5 minutes walk). Hammersmith is served by the District, Piccadilly, Hammersmith and City Lines. Bus routes serving the area include multiple TfL services. Parking is available on surrounding streets, though spaces are limited during peak drop-off times.

Pupils feel genuinely safe at Wendell Park. Recent Ofsted Parent View surveys show 62% of parents strongly agreeing their child is happy at the school, with a further 38% agreeing. 54% strongly agree their child feels safe.

The school has invested in pastoral structures and staff training to support emotional wellbeing. Teachers respond to individual need, and identified pupils receive targeted enrichment to open them to "a world of awe and wonder" and foster lifelong learning. Behaviour is managed through clear, consistent routines that all staff implement uniformly. The latest inspection confirmed that pupils behave well and trust adults to help them when needed.

The school population is remarkably diverse: 90% of pupils are from ethnic minority backgrounds, reflecting the multicultural character of West London. This diversity is treated as a strength. The curriculum celebrates diverse texts, experiences and perspectives. Religious education explores world faiths, not advancing any single faith position. The school has no religious character, welcoming families of all backgrounds and none.

Oversubscription and admissions pressure. With 118 applications for 58 primary places, entry is competitive. The last distance offered in recent admissions rounds has been measured in tenths of a mile. Proximity to the school gates is determinative, but families living at the boundary are not guaranteed a place due to year-to-year variation in applications. Verify your exact distance with the local authority before relying on school admissions.

Limited on-site nursery capacity. While the school operates a dedicated nursery, places are finite. Entry to nursery does not guarantee progression to Reception, though in practice most pupils do continue into the school. Families seeking early years provision should register with the nursery as soon as possible.

Assessment gaps in some subjects. The latest inspection identified that in a small number of subjects, teachers do not consistently monitor pupils' learning, allowing some misconceptions to persist. The school has acknowledged this and is addressing it through professional development, but this remains an area for further refinement.

Wendell Park Primary is a school firing on multiple cylinders: academically excellent, emotionally secure, and genuinely inclusive. The combination of outstanding achievement in the core subjects, specialist music provision, strong pastoral care, and commitment to diversity is rare at this level. Historic architecture and contemporary practice coexist without tension. For families within the tight admissions catchment, this represents first-class primary education at no cost. The challenge lies solely in securing a place. Once admitted, pupils benefit from a school that educates rather than merely teaches.

Best suited to families living very close to the school who value academic rigour alongside music enrichment, genuine inclusivity and a sense of belonging to an institutional tradition. The main barrier is entry; the education that follows is exceptional.