Streatham Wells Primary Review 2026: Outstanding Streatham primary with elite KS2 results and strong wraparound care

A single-form entry primary in Streatham that pairs a clear values-led culture with top-tier results. The most recent inspection (January 2024) judged the school Outstanding across all areas, including early years, which matters here because Nursery and Reception are integral to the model rather than an add-on.

On outcomes, the school’s Key Stage 2 picture is unusually strong. In FindMySchool’s England-wide primary performance ranking, it sits 287th in England and 5th in Lambeth, placing it among the highest-performing primaries in England (top 2%). This is a popular option locally, and the main challenge is admission rather than day-to-day experience once you are in.

The school’s own language centres on “Growing Hearts and Minds”, with a short set of values that are easy for pupils to internalise: Happiness, Courageous, Respectful, Pioneering, Excellence, Resilience. That list gives a helpful clue about the tone. This is not a quiet, low-expectations setting. It is a place where pupils are encouraged to take learning seriously, speak up, and build confidence through performance, sport, and pupil leadership, alongside the basics.

Day-to-day culture leans purposeful. Pupils are expected to listen carefully, contribute thoughtfully, and respond well to challenge. Attendance is described as high, linked to systems that promote regular attendance, and routines are clearly defined. Staff development is treated as ongoing, with structured training and a sense of stability that tends to show up in calmer classrooms and smoother transitions between year groups.

A distinctive feature is how frequently pupils appear to represent the school beyond the site, whether through music performance, pupil leadership projects, or community-facing work linked to the garden and growing. For families who value a primary where children are encouraged to develop a public voice early, that emphasis is more pronounced here than at many similarly sized schools.

Streatham Wells Primary’s headline Key Stage 2 outcome is the combined expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics. In 2024, 88% of pupils met the expected standard, compared with the England average of 62%. That is a large gap, and it puts the school in a very strong position for families who want a high-attainment academic culture in a state setting.

At the higher standard (greater depth) in reading, writing and maths combined, 44.33% reached that threshold, compared with the England average of 8%. This “greater depth” figure is often the clearest indicator of how much stretch is embedded across the cohort, not just support at the pass line.

A few further indicators reinforce the same story:

• Reading scaled score: 111

• Mathematics scaled score: 110

• Grammar, punctuation and spelling scaled score: 111

• Expected standard in science: 97%, compared with an England average of 82%

Rankings add context. Using FindMySchool’s proprietary ranking (built from official attainment data), the school is Ranked 287th in England and 5th in Lambeth for primary performance. That places it among the highest-performing in England (top 2%), which is rare for a non-selective local primary. Parents comparing nearby options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool to view these results side-by-side.

A final note on interpretation: high attainment can feel different for different children. For many pupils it is energising, especially when the curriculum is taught in a way that builds confidence through strong routines and explicit teaching. For children who find pressure difficult, parents should pay attention to how the school balances ambition with pastoral reassurance, particularly from Year 4 onwards.

The curriculum narrative is explicit: knowledge is planned carefully over time, across a broad range of subjects, with an emphasis on pupils learning content that sticks and can be applied through discussion and written work. The school also positions its curriculum as actively inclusive, with a stated focus on equality and representation, which will matter to families looking for that clarity in a diverse London setting.

Reading is treated as a gateway skill rather than a single subject. The school’s early reading approach sets a clear ambition for fluency by the end of Key Stage 1, so pupils can access the wider curriculum with increasing independence. That tends to show up in stronger comprehension work in Key Stage 2, and the inspection evidence points to reading being embedded well enough to pull in reluctant readers through book choice and classroom practice.

In practice, the “how” of teaching is likely to feel structured. Staff reference evidence-informed approaches and draw on widely used research organisations for teaching and learning guidance. The advantage for parents is consistency: strong primaries often achieve their results because pupils experience similar classroom routines year after year, rather than depending on the luck of a single standout teacher.

Nursery and Reception deserve separate mention. Early years provision was also judged Outstanding, and the nursery is presented as a setting designed around children’s needs and interests, with a focus on children feeling safe, happy, and valued. Families should expect early language, social development, and routines to be taken seriously, with clear transition planning into Reception for those who secure a school place later.

This is a primary school with Nursery, so there are two “next steps” that matter: progression into Reception, and the eventual move to secondary school after Year 6.

Nursery to Reception

Attendance at the Nursery does not mean automatic transfer into Reception. Parents must apply separately via Lambeth’s coordinated Reception admissions process. That detail is easy to miss, and it can shape how families plan childcare and schooling across ages 3 to 5.

Year 6 to secondary

The school does not publish a fixed list of destination secondaries, and in London that is normal because destinations vary by child and by year. What is clearer is preparation: upper Key Stage 2 includes experiences designed to build independence, and the school frames residential experiences as supporting transition into secondary. For children who are anxious about the move, this emphasis on independence and confidence-building can be valuable.

Where this school can look a little different from peers is in specialist arts pathways. Inspection evidence notes pupils moving on to specialist secondary education in music, and pupils performing at major venues through the school’s music and performance opportunities. That sort of pipeline is not typical for most state primaries, and it signals serious intent behind the arts programme rather than occasional enrichment.

For Reception to Year 6, admissions are handled through Lambeth Council, with the council also managing waiting lists. Nursery applications are handled directly by the school.

Reception demand and competition

Local demand is high. In the most recent admissions data provided here, there were 191 applications for 30 offers, which is about 6.37 applications per place, and the school is recorded as Oversubscribed. This is the practical reality for parents: even if the school feels like a perfect fit, the limiting factor is often distance and priority criteria.

Where distance data is available, it gives a sense of how tight things can be. In 2024, the last distance offered was 0.242 miles. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. Families should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check their exact distance and understand how it compares with the last offered distance.

Key dates for 2026 entry

Lambeth’s deadline for Reception applications for September 2026 is 15 January 2026, and Primary National Offer Day is Thursday 16 April 2026.

The school also publishes a parent-facing timeline aligned to this pattern: applications opening in September 2025, closing in January 2026, and offers made in April 2026, followed by transition activity in late spring and early summer.

Nursery admissions

The Nursery has one intake in September, with places offered from a waiting list if vacancies appear during the year. The school states capacity for 26 full-time (30-hour) places, and also aims to offer part-time places, with the mix varying year by year depending on eligibility and demand.

From the term after a child’s third birthday, children are entitled to 15 hours of free early education for 38 weeks each year, and eligible families may qualify for an additional 15 hours, subject to criteria that include working status and an earnings cap.

The January 2024 inspection confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective, which is the minimum baseline parents should expect, and an important indicator of systems working as they should.

Pastoral culture also shows up in the routines around wraparound care. Breakfast Club and After School Club are staffed by school staff rather than an external contractor, with named leads and a clear structure for food, activities, and pick-up. This tends to create continuity for children who are in school from early morning to early evening, especially younger pupils who can find frequent adult changes unsettling.

In the classroom day, expectations for behaviour appear high, but the school also builds recognition into weekly routines, such as celebration assemblies and structured rewards tied to school rules and values. This kind of “caught doing the right thing” culture often works well for pupils who respond to clear social norms and consistent praise, rather than constant sanctions.

This is a school where enrichment looks like a pillar, not a footnote.

Music and performance

The choir is active and visible, including performances beyond the school, and pupils have taken part in large-scale events like the Young Voices concert at The O2.

In addition, the music curriculum outlines specific enrichment and experiences: peripatetic lessons (including piano and recorder), structured singing programmes, opportunities linked to professional vocal groups, and annual stage performance opportunities that culminate in a London theatre setting. Clubs mentioned include Choir, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop Dance, and Zumba.

The implication for families is straightforward: children who enjoy performing will have regular chances to do so, and children who are shy may gain confidence because performance is normalised rather than reserved for a small group.

Growing and the garden

The school’s garden is described as award-winning and used as part of curriculum-linked learning across year groups. Pupils are not just “visiting” an outdoor space, they are learning in it, eating produce from it, and taking part in Gardening Club on Friday afternoons, with families welcomed to help.

That matters for two reasons. First, it provides a tangible, hands-on context for science, food, and sustainability. Second, it offers a quieter type of extracurricular life that can suit children who are not drawn to competitive sport or performance.

Sport and clubs after school

The school runs extracurricular clubs in the after-school window, and also partners with external providers at times, such as football workshops. Competitive success is visible too, including school teams winning local leagues.

Parents should expect clubs to rotate and change by term, which is typical for a single-form entry school managing staffing and demand. The key question to ask, especially for Reception and Key Stage 1 families, is how places are allocated when a club is oversubscribed.

School day and hours

The school states a minimum of 32.5 hours per week. Gates open at 8:50, registration is at 9:00, and the day ends at 3:30. After-school extracurricular clubs run 3:40 to 4:30, with After School Club running until 6:00.

Wraparound care

Breakfast Club runs 8:00 to 8:45 and costs £4.75 per day. After School Club runs 3:30 to 6:00 and costs £13.50 per day. Places are booked via the school’s usual booking system and are described as limited, so families who need regular wraparound care should plan early.

Transport and parking

On-site parking is stated as not available, and the school encourages public transport. It is described as accessible from Streatham Hill and Tulse Hill stations.

Term dates

Term dates for the current and next academic year are published on the school website, including next year’s autumn term start dates, which is useful for planning childcare around INSET days and half terms.

• Competition for places is the limiting factor. With 191 applications for 30 offers in the most recent data shown here, oversubscription is real. In 2024, the last distance offered was 0.242 miles. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. Families should verify distance carefully before relying on a place.

• Nursery is not a guaranteed route into Reception. The Nursery has its own admissions process, but families still need to apply separately for Reception through Lambeth’s coordinated admissions system. This can surprise parents who assume an “all-in-one” pathway.

• High attainment can mean a faster pace. The results indicate both high pass rates and substantial stretch. For many pupils that is a positive, but children who need a gentler academic tempo may benefit from visiting during a normal learning day to gauge fit.

• Wraparound is strong but not infinite. Breakfast and after-school provision is detailed and structured, but places are described as limited. Families who need daily wraparound should factor this into their planning rather than assuming it will always be available at short notice.

Streatham Wells Primary is a high-performing state primary that combines Outstanding inspection outcomes with elite Key Stage 2 results and a clear enrichment identity, especially in music, performance, and curriculum-linked outdoor learning. It suits families who want strong academic stretch alongside structured opportunities for children to develop confidence through choir, clubs, and pupil leadership. The main hurdle is admission, so the most practical next step is to shortlist early, understand the local authority process, and check distance carefully before making plans around a place.