Frithwood Primary School Review 2026: High expectations, strong KS2 outcomes, and a busy co-curricular offer in Northwood

Frithwood Primary School is a larger-than-average, mixed, two-form entry primary in Northwood (London Borough of Hillingdon), with Nursery provision from age three. Its 2024 Key Stage 2 outcomes are a clear headline, with 88.33% of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, well above the England average of 62%.

An Ofsted inspection on 8 and 9 May 2024 confirmed the school continues to be Good.

Families considering Frithwood should understand two things early. First, demand is real, the school is oversubscribed on Reception entry based on the latest available application and offer figures. Second, the school’s strengths are not limited to results, there is a strong culture of pupil responsibility (for example peer mediators and librarians) alongside a well-stocked programme of clubs, trips and visitors that add shape to the week.

Frithwood positions itself around a simple, practical motto, Striving for Excellence, Learning for Life, Achievement for All. It reads like a set of priorities rather than branding, and it maps onto what external review describes: high expectations for all pupils, calm behaviour, and pupils who are confident talking about their learning and the roles they hold in school life.

Leadership is led by Headteacher Mrs Frances Saunders. (Publicly available documents show she was in post by February 2019, and she remains the named headteacher in the most recent inspection report.)

For families, the most useful “feel” indicator is how the school builds responsibility into ordinary routines. Pupils can take up structured roles such as peer mediators, games makers and librarians, and the school council has a real brief that extends beyond token tasks. That matters because it tends to produce a pupil culture where helping younger children and sorting minor issues is normal, rather than something adults must constantly direct.

Nursery and Reception sit within a wider primary setting rather than as a standalone early years unit. The school describes extensive outdoor space and play areas, and in practice this supports an early years rhythm that has room for movement and structured play, not only table-based work.

Frithwood’s latest published Key Stage 2 results (2024) are strong by any state-sector yardstick. In reading, writing and mathematics combined, 88.33% reached the expected standard, compared to the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 38.33% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared to the England average of 8%.

Subject detail reinforces the same picture. In 2024, 91% reached the expected standard in reading, 88% in mathematics, and 88% in grammar, punctuation and spelling. Science is also high at 96% reaching the expected standard.

Scaled scores add context to the headline percentages. Average scaled scores were 108 in reading, 107 in mathematics, and 107 in grammar, punctuation and spelling. At Key Stage 2, a scaled score of 100 indicates the expected standard, so these averages sit comfortably above that benchmark.

Rankings should be interpreted carefully, but they help parents compare like-for-like at local level. Ranked 2,599th in England and 15th in Hillingdon for primary outcomes (FindMySchool proprietary ranking based on official data), the school sits above England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

What does that mean in day-to-day terms. The results suggest a school that consistently gets most pupils over the expected-standard line, while also stretching a sizeable minority into the higher standard, which usually requires secure foundations plus confident teaching of extended reasoning and writing.

Teaching at Frithwood has a deliberate “programme-led” feel, which is often what families want when they hear phrases like high expectations. For phonics, the school uses Read Write Inc, and reading is described as a priority from the start of school. The mechanics matter here, a consistent phonics programme, regular checks, and books matched to the sounds learned tend to reduce the risk of pupils coasting with gaps in decoding.

The wider curriculum is designed to be sequenced and revisited. External review describes leaders refreshing the curriculum so that knowledge builds through repetition and practice, and mathematics is used as a concrete example of early number work developing into later fraction understanding.

Parents often ask what “a broad curriculum” looks like in practice at a primary. Frithwood publishes several of the main schemes and resources it uses. Beyond phonics, this includes Purple Mash for computing, Charanga for music, Rigolo for French, SCARF for PSHE, and PlanBee for science.

There is also a useful note of realism for families deciding whether this is the right fit. The most recent inspection highlights that, in a few subjects, the key knowledge and skills are not identified with the same precision as in others, and that some teachers are less confident in some subjects, particularly around using assessment consistently to spot misconceptions early. That is not a crisis, but it is a meaningful “development point” to weigh if your child thrives on clarity and tight feedback loops across every foundation subject.

For a primary in Hillingdon, next steps are usually shaped by a mix of local comprehensive secondary schools, selective tests (for families who choose them), and independent routes for a smaller group. Frithwood’s own focus is more on readiness than destination labelling, pupils are prepared to move on through a curriculum designed to build secure knowledge over time, and through planned experiences that develop confidence outside the classroom.

It is sensible for parents to treat Year 5 and Year 6 as “transition planning years”. If you are targeting specific secondary schools, use the Local Authority admissions information and attend open events early, because travel time and the child’s tolerance for commuting can matter as much as school preference.

Frithwood has Nursery and Reception entry, but they are not the same process.

Reception entry (September 2026) is coordinated by Hillingdon. The published deadline for applications was Thursday 15 January 2026, with offers on Thursday 16 April 2026 and an acceptance deadline of Thursday 30 April 2026. Future years typically follow a similar mid-January deadline pattern, but families should always check the latest Local Authority timetable.

Nursery entry is handled directly by the school, with one intake into Nursery and Reception each September. Nursery can be taken as morning, afternoon or full-time provision (availability is capacity dependent), and families apply directly rather than through the Local Authority coordinated Reception process.

Competition is not hypothetical. For the latest Reception-route admissions data available here, 104 applications resulted in 37 offers, which is around 2.81 applications per place. That kind of ratio usually means distance and criterion detail matter, and being “close” is not the same as being “close enough” in a particular year. Parents should use the FindMySchool Map Search to understand their precise home-to-school distance and how it compares with typical allocation patterns in the borough.

Frithwood is a community school for admissions purposes, so the Local Authority admissions booklet is the right starting point for oversubscription criteria framing. The same booklet also shows how important dates and the broader process works in Hillingdon.

Pastoral strength at Frithwood shows up in the ordinary markers parents care about: behaviour, safety, and how quickly concerns are handled. Pupils are described as polite and respectful, and bullying is described as rare, with pupils confident that adults will deal with issues quickly.

Support for pupils with SEND is framed around early identification and adapting access to the planned curriculum. That is often the difference between “support” as an add-on and support as part of the core teaching plan.

Safeguarding is treated as a whole-school culture rather than a compliance file, and the school runs breakfast and after-school provision that extends adult supervision and structured routines beyond the formal school day.

Frithwood’s co-curricular offer is unusually easy for parents to understand because it publishes a clear list of clubs that reflects current staff and pupil interests. The important point is not the length of the list, it is the mix of academic, creative and wellbeing options that help different children find “their thing”.

Practical enrichment clubs include Computing, Chess, Lego, Sewing, and Puzzle and Card Games. For pupils who enjoy structured thinking and making, these clubs can translate classroom strengths into confidence and friendships.

Performing and creative options include Choir, Drama, Art, Craft, and Film. These are particularly useful for children who are strong communicators but may not always be the first to put their hand up in a large class.

Sport and activity includes Football, Netball, Tag Rugby, Cricket, Tennis, Athletics, Rounders, and more. The school also references the use of specialist sports coaches (PSD) who support teaching and provide after-school clubs, which can raise consistency and quality where staff confidence varies.

Eco Club is a specific example of responsibility-led enrichment. It meets every Friday lunchtime and takes on practical “eco chores” such as collecting batteries and emptying class recycling, which turns sustainability into routine rather than occasional themed weeks.

Trips and visitors give extra shape to the year. Published examples include a talk from a Paralympian, a visit to the Houses of Parliament, and pupils singing at Wembley Stadium. These experiences widen pupils’ reference points and create shared memories that often improve engagement back in class.

The school day runs from 8:40am to 3:15pm, described as a 32.5 hour school week.

Wraparound care is clearly set out. Breakfast Club runs 7:45am to 8:45am and costs £5 per session. After School Club runs 3:15pm to 5:45pm and costs £12 per session, and there is also a shorter after-school option (3:15pm to 4:00pm) at £5 per session. A Holiday Club is also described, running 8:30am to 5:30pm at £35 per day.

For travel, the school states it is accessible by public transport with local bus routes nearby, and it has secure bike and scooter storage for pupils who cycle or scoot.

For families using the Tube, Northwood Underground station is on the Metropolitan line.

• Entry competition. Reception demand is strong, with 104 applications and 37 offers in the latest available data, so families should treat admission as uncertain unless they clearly meet priority criteria.

• Curriculum consistency across subjects. The most recent external review flags that a few subjects need sharper definition of key knowledge and stronger consistency in assessment practice. If your child relies on very explicit feedback and tight sequencing in every subject, ask about current subject leader work and staff training priorities.

• Wraparound costs add up. Breakfast, after-school and holiday provision are all available, but regular use can become a meaningful monthly cost. Check what your family actually needs across the working week.

• Nursery specifics need checking early. Nursery entry is direct to the school and is based around a September intake with different session patterns (morning, afternoon, full-time). Places and session availability can vary year to year, so start the conversation early if Nursery is your priority route.

Frithwood Primary School suits families who want a state primary with strong published outcomes, an orderly culture, and a well-signposted range of clubs and pupil leadership opportunities. The combination of high KS2 attainment and a busy enrichment programme should suit children who enjoy routine, clear expectations, and having multiple ways to shine beyond English and maths.

The main constraint is admission, not the offer itself, so families should plan pragmatically and keep a strong shortlist, using FindMySchool tools to compare local options side-by-side and track practical travel realities.