Rosendale Primary School Review 2026: High-expectation Lambeth primary with standout KS2 outcomes

This is a large, popular primary in West Dulwich with a strong combination of warmth and precision. Expectations are high from the early years onwards, and staff training is treated as a core part of how the school runs, not an add-on. External review describes a joyful culture built on trust and mutual respect, with pupils feeling safe and ready for the next stage.

Academic outcomes at the end of Year 6 are a headline strength. In 2024, 83% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the England average of 62%. A particularly striking feature is the proportion reaching the higher standard, 36%, compared with 8% across England.

Admissions pressure is real. For September 2025 entry, the published admissions number was 90 and the school received 327 on-time applications. The last offer made on distance grounds went to a child living 1,048.89 metres away (straight-line), which is about 0.652 miles.

Rosendale has a clearly structured culture. Pupils are expected to contribute fully in lessons, listen carefully, and take discussion seriously. External review highlights purposeful classroom habits, and describes pupils who debate ideas respectfully and focus intently during learning time.

Leadership and responsibility are part of daily life rather than occasional rewards. Pupils can hold recognised roles, including house captains and young leaders. That matters for families because it signals a school that actively teaches routines, contribution, and civic behaviours, not just academic content.

Nursery and early years culture

Nursery provision is a meaningful part of the school, not a separate add-on. The early years judgement in the most recent inspection sits at the top level, and the report describes early literacy and number as core priorities, including letter formation and foundational number understanding.

For parents of younger children, that emphasis usually shows up as clear routines, adults who model language carefully, and a steady build towards Reception readiness. Nursery fees are not published here, so families should check the school’s official materials for current early years pricing. Government-funded hours are available for eligible families.

The most recent published KS2 outcomes are strong across the board.

KS2 headline measures (2024)

• Expected standard (reading, writing, maths combined): 83%, compared with 62% in England.

• Higher standard (greater depth in reading, writing and maths): 36%, compared with 8% in England.

Scaled scores also indicate a high-attaining cohort: reading 108, maths 108, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 107.

FindMySchool ranking context (primary outcomes)

Rosendale is ranked 2,460th in England for primary outcomes in the FindMySchool system, and 17th in Lambeth locally. That level of ranking aligns with performance that sits above the England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of primary schools in England.

For parents, the practical takeaway is consistency. A school that performs well across multiple measures, including higher standard outcomes, is usually one where curriculum sequencing and day-to-day classroom practice are tightly aligned.

Teaching is described as carefully designed from Nursery through Year 6, with subject knowledge built deliberately over time. The curriculum is planned so that key themes and knowledge recur and deepen, which helps pupils retain learning rather than treating each unit as a one-off topic.

A visible thread is retrieval and recap. Mathematics is explicitly described as using regular recap to strengthen memory, and computing is highlighted for building secure vocabulary and conceptual understanding. For families, that tends to mean fewer gaps, less reliance on last-minute revision, and more secure learning habits by the time pupils reach Year 6.

Early reading

Phonics begins as soon as children start Reception. The report emphasises deep staff expertise in early reading, strong assessment, and close matching of books to the sounds pupils know, so practice time turns into genuine fluency rather than guessing.

The school’s stated aim is to prepare pupils exceptionally well for secondary school, including pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

Because Rosendale sits in a part of South London where families often consider both Lambeth and neighbouring borough options, routes at Year 7 can vary considerably. Nearby secondary options in the wider area include schools within the same trust, as well as other local state secondaries. Rosendale being part of Dunraven Educational Trust may be relevant for some families, since the trust also runs Dunraven School and The Elmgreen School.

What the school does particularly well, based on the most recent inspection evidence, is build the learning behaviours that travel well: attentive listening, structured discussion, and confidence with demanding content across subjects.

Admissions are highly competitive, and the detail matters.

Demand and last distance offered

For September 2025 entry, Lambeth’s published data shows:

• Published admissions number (PAN): 90

• On-time applications received: 327

• Offers made by distance: 54 (after other criteria were applied)

• Last distance offered: 1,048.89 metres straight-line, approximately 0.652 miles

In 2025, the last distance offered was 0.652 miles. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. Families should treat this as a planning indicator, then check the latest admissions data before relying on distance alone.

How places were allocated (example year)

In that same September 2025 entry cycle, Lambeth’s published breakdown for Rosendale shows offers were made under several criteria including siblings and children of staff, with the remaining places allocated by distance.

Key dates for September 2026 entry

Primary admissions in London operate through the coordinated system. For September 2026 entry, the Lambeth admissions booklet states:

• Applications can be made from 1 September (online or paper, via your home borough).

• The deadline is Thursday 15 January 2026.

• National Offer Day is 16 April 2026.

Given how tight distances can be, parents comparing options should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their precise straight-line distance and then sense-check it against the most recent last-distance figures.

Nursery entry and progression

Nursery provision is available, and early years is treated as a key stage with its own clear priorities. Entry arrangements for nursery places and any progression expectations into Reception should be confirmed directly with the school, since these details are not consistently published in borough-wide admissions booklets.

Pupils’ safety and belonging are not presented as slogans, they are described as embedded in relationships and routines. Pupils are reported to feel safe, understand right and wrong clearly, and experience a culture where bullying and discrimination are not tolerated.

Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is described as carefully adapted within everyday teaching, supported by staff training that improves understanding of different needs. The practical implication for families is that support is designed to be part of normal classroom life, rather than something bolted on after difficulties emerge.

Safeguarding is confirmed as effective in the most recent inspection.

Clubs and enrichment are framed as part of personal development rather than just childcare. The inspection evidence gives concrete examples of clubs, including Mandarin, ukulele, and art.

Educational visits are treated as curriculum-linked, not generic treats. One example referenced is a planned Year 5 visit to the Horniman Museum connected to a history topic on Benin, with older pupils’ enthusiasm helping build anticipation. That detail matters because it points to a culture where learning is shared across year groups, and where trips reinforce curriculum content rather than interrupt it.

Pupil leadership roles also sit in this wider enrichment picture, since responsibility and contribution are clearly part of how the school develops confidence and social maturity.

Lambeth’s directory lists a 9:00am to 3:30pm day across the week.

The school operates a breakfast club and an after-school club. Exact hours, booking arrangements, and whether provision runs every day are not consistently published in official datasets, so families should confirm current wraparound details directly with the school.

For travel, the setting is well suited to walking and cycling for many local families, and the immediate area is served by local bus routes and nearby rail options, which can be useful for breakfast-club drop-offs and after-school collection planning.

• Competition for places. For September 2025 entry, 327 on-time applications chased 90 places. The last distance offered was 0.652 miles. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

• High expectations feel different for different children. Classroom participation and attentive learning behaviours are central here. Many pupils thrive on this clarity, but children who need a slower ramp-up may require extra reassurance during transition.

• Large-school dynamics. With a capacity around 630, there is scale and breadth, but families who prefer very small-school feel may want to explore how communication, handover, and day-to-day contact work in practice.

• Wraparound specifics need checking. Breakfast and after-school provision exists, but families relying on it for work patterns should confirm the current hours, availability, and terms well in advance.

Rosendale Primary School combines a warm, safety-first culture with unusually strong academic outcomes at the end of Year 6. It suits families who want clear routines, high expectations, and a curriculum built carefully from the early years onwards. The limiting factor is admission, so planning around distance, criteria, and deadlines is essential for anyone shortlisting it seriously.