Haseltine Primary School Review 2026: Welcoming Community Hub in Bell Green with Outstanding Personal Development

Haseltine Primary School is a two-form-entry community primary in Bell Green, Lower Sydenham, serving 402 children aged 3 to 11 and offering nursery provision with 26 morning and 26 afternoon places. Part of the Fairlawn and Haseltine Federation since its formation, the school earned a Good Ofsted rating in March 2023 with an Outstanding grade for personal development and early years provision. The school's most recent results show 66% of Year 6 pupils achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, which sits above the national average of 62%, placing it broadly in line with typical primary schools nationally. Admissions are highly competitive, with 113 applications for 42 Reception places in the latest cycle, representing an oversubscription ratio of 2.69.

Haseltine Primary School describes itself as a warm and welcoming environment, often known as the "Haseltine family" by pupils, families and staff. The core values of excellence, resilience and self-belief underpin the school's culture. The school is fully committed to standing up against all forms of racism and social injustice, aiming to ensure all children can see themselves reflected in the curriculum and in the books they read. Safeguarding is positioned as the school's number one priority, with leaders maintaining that children must be safe and happy in order to learn effectively.

Sara Anderman has led the school as headteacher since September 2016. Under her leadership, Haseltine works in partnership with Fairlawn Primary School in a hard federation, sharing a governing body and harnessing each other's strengths and expertise. Executive headteacher Jeanette Brumby supports this partnership, with regular presence on site. The federation aspires to provide outstanding learning opportunities in an outstanding learning environment for confident, expressive and inquisitive young people who enjoy learning.

Ofsted inspectors in 2023 noted that all the pupils they spoke to said they enjoy learning at Haseltine and believe they are learning well. The sense of community is strong, with pupils expressing pride in their school. Staff report feeling well supported by leaders, with their workload and wellbeing taken into account.

Haseltine's curriculum is designed to meet the ambition of the national curriculum with explicit end goals. Teaching focuses effectively on knowledge, skills and vocabulary, particularly in English and mathematics. The teaching of reading is a priority, supported by an ambitious phonics programme and books that are well matched to pupils' reading levels. In the most recent results, 75% of Year 6 pupils reached the expected standard in reading, 76% in grammar, punctuation and spelling, and 67% in mathematics. The average scaled scores were 105 in reading, 106 in grammar, punctuation and spelling, and 103 in mathematics. Science performance was strong, with 80% reaching the expected standard, slightly below the national average of 82%.

High attainment is evident in the 24% of pupils achieving high scores in reading, maths and GPS combined, well above the national average of 8%. At the highest level, 15% achieved the high standard across all three subjects, nearly double the national figure. Inspectors noted that pupils achieve highly in English and mathematics, and that children make a particularly strong start to developing writing in the early years. Children apply the sounds they learn in phonics sessions to their writing and are confident in making plausible attempts to spell new words.

Pupils who are falling behind receive timely support through "catch-up" and "keep-up" sessions. Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities have their needs identified quickly and are supported effectively with appropriate guidance and resources. The school believes that children learn best when the learning is clearly sequenced and children's cognitive load is reduced, while also providing opportunities for learners to be curious and to explore, create, research and investigate.

Inspectors identified that in some foundation subjects, curricular thinking and sequencing are not as well defined. Some subjects lack clear sequences of learning and precise identification of knowledge, skills and vocabulary. However, the school's strengths in core subjects and early years provision demonstrate its capacity to develop these areas.

Haseltine places significant emphasis on sport, viewing it as important for children's health and wellbeing. The school believes that competitive sport develops children's resilience, which they then apply to all areas of their learning. A full-time specialist PE teacher is employed, and all staff receive training. Year 4 children receive weekly swimming tuition, with small group extra-curricular swimming lessons also available. After-school sports clubs include netball, football, taekwondo, street dance and athletics, run by Haseltine staff and qualified coaches from local clubs. Engagement is high, with waiting lists for children to join the clubs. Pupils have represented the borough in cricket and football, and in a 2021–22 pupil voice survey, 90% of children reported feeling confident and enjoying physical education.

Beyond sport, pupils relish various opportunities including pupil parliament, eco-warrior roles, digital leader positions, and extra-curricular clubs. The school promotes a range of opportunities for pupils to develop their talents and interests through leadership roles and activities that foster a well-rounded education. Inspectors highlighted the Outstanding rating for personal development, noting that extracurricular activities play a vital role in the school's atmosphere.

Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. Bullying is rare and quickly resolved when it occurs. Pupils show good awareness of how to keep themselves safe online. The school's focus on wellbeing and holistic development is evident throughout its provision.

Haseltine Primary School is a community school, and all admissions are handled by Lewisham Council. Applications for Reception places must be made online at www.eadmissions.org.uk by 15 January for the following September. In-year applications require the Lewisham In-Year Common Application Form, available online at www.lewisham.gov.uk or from the access point at Laurence House, Catford. No supplementary information forms are required.

The admissions criteria follow Lewisham's standard order of priority: children in public care (looked-after children) first, followed by children or their family members who may have medical or social needs, then siblings currently attending Haseltine, and finally children living closest to the school. Distance is measured in straight-line distance from home to school. In the latest admissions round, 42 Reception places were offered against 113 applications, with all first-preference applicants who received offers secured a place, indicating that distance criteria are applied after higher-priority categories are satisfied.

The oversubscription ratio of 2.69 confirms strong demand for places. Parents should note that geographical proximity becomes relevant only after pupils have been admitted on higher priority criteria such as looked-after children, medical or social needs, and siblings. Lewisham Council publishes a map each year showing the distances of places offered to community primary schools under the home-to-school distance criterion, and this can help families assess their likelihood of securing a place.

The nursery is a community nursery and does not serve as a feeder for the primary school. Haseltine Nursery has 26 morning and 26 afternoon places, with up to 13 places available for families entitled to the 30 hours. New entrants are usually admitted in the September following their third birthday. All children are eligible for universal funding of 15 hours per week from the term after they turn three. Application forms are available from the school office, and children are placed on a waiting list until a place becomes available. Parents can book tours every Tuesday morning by contacting the school office.

Haseltine Primary School offers a warm, inclusive community environment where children are known, valued and supported. The school's strengths lie in its commitment to personal development, strong early years provision, and effective teaching of core subjects, particularly reading and mathematics. Performance in national assessments sits above the national average, with a notable proportion of pupils achieving high standards.

The school's Outstanding ratings for personal development and early years provision reflect a genuine commitment to nurturing confident, resilient and self-believing young people. The federation partnership with Fairlawn Primary enables shared expertise and resources, while Sara Anderman's leadership since 2016 has provided stability and direction. The focus on sport, leadership opportunities and extracurricular activities enriches the curriculum and develops the whole child.

Admissions are competitive, reflecting the school's reputation and its location in Bell Green. Families with siblings already at the school or those living in close proximity are most likely to secure places. The nursery provides an early introduction to the Haseltine environment, though it does not guarantee a Reception place.

Parents considering Haseltine should recognise that while the school excels in English, mathematics and early years, some foundation subjects are still developing in terms of curriculum sequencing and clarity. However, the school's strong leadership, committed staff and clear values make it a solid choice for families seeking a community-focused primary education with a strong emphasis on personal development and academic achievement in core subjects.

Is Haseltine Primary School a good school?

Yes, Haseltine Primary School is rated Good by Ofsted as of March 2023, with Outstanding grades for personal development and early years provision. The school achieves above-average results in reading, writing and maths, with 66% of pupils reaching the expected standard compared to the national average of 62%. The school is praised for its strong sense of community, effective teaching of reading and mathematics, and excellent support for pupils' personal development.

How do I apply to Haseltine Primary School?

For Reception places, apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk by 15 January for the following September. All applications are handled by Lewisham Council. For in-year transfers, use the Lewisham In-Year Common Application Form available at www.lewisham.gov.uk or from Laurence House, Catford. No supplementary forms are required. For nursery places, collect an application form from the school office. Tours are available every Tuesday morning by contacting the school at 020 8778 6536 or admin@haseltine.lewisham.sch.uk.

What are the admission criteria for Haseltine Primary School?

Haseltine follows Lewisham's standard admission criteria: looked-after children first, then children or family members with medical or social needs, then siblings currently attending the school, and finally distance from home to school. With 113 applications for 42 places in the latest cycle (oversubscription ratio 2.69), proximity to the school becomes important after higher-priority categories are satisfied. All first-preference applicants who received offers secured a place.

Does Haseltine Primary School have a nursery?

Yes, Haseltine has a community nursery for children aged 3, with 26 morning and 26 afternoon places, including up to 13 places for families entitled to 30 hours. Children are admitted from the September following their third birthday. All children receive universal funding of 15 hours per week from the term after turning three. The nursery is separate from the primary school and does not serve as a feeder. Application forms are available from the school office, with places allocated from a waiting list.

What extracurricular activities does Haseltine Primary School offer?

Haseltine offers a range of extracurricular activities including after-school sports clubs in netball, football, taekwondo, street dance and athletics, run by staff and qualified coaches. Leadership opportunities include pupil parliament, eco-warrior roles and digital leader positions. The school employs a full-time specialist PE teacher and provides Year 4 swimming lessons. Pupils have represented the borough in cricket and football. In a 2021–22 survey, 90% of children reported feeling confident and enjoying physical education. Engagement in clubs is high, with waiting lists for some activities.

What is the Fairlawn and Haseltine Federation?

The Fairlawn and Haseltine Federation is a hard federation partnership between Haseltine Primary School and Fairlawn Primary School. The two schools share a governing body and work together to harness each other's strengths and expertise. Sara Anderman serves as headteacher of Haseltine, working in partnership with executive headteacher Jeanette Brumby, who is regularly on site. The federation aspires to provide outstanding learning opportunities in an outstanding learning environment for confident, expressive and inquisitive young people.