Park Academy, London Review 2026: Elite Results in a Purposeful Primary

Park Academy occupies a quiet, residential corner of Wimbledon where the leafy streets of Merton meet a high performing school culture. This one form entry primary serves just 210 pupils, creating a small scale environment where every child is a known entity rather than a statistic. The school sits in the elite tier of English education, with 2024 results placing it in the top 2% of schools in England (FindMySchool ranking). Under the leadership of Mr Stefan Johnson, the academy has maintained a trajectory of academic excellence while fostering a calm, orderly atmosphere.

At drop off, the gates reveal a school that operates with quiet efficiency. The building itself is compact and well maintained, reflecting the one form entry structure that is central to its identity. Because there is only one class per year group, the peer groups are stable and the sense of community is palpable.

Mr Stefan Johnson leads the school with a focus on high expectations. His tenure has coincided with a period where the school has cemented its position as one of the most sought after state primaries in South West London. The atmosphere is purposeful; pupils move through corridors with a level of maturity that belies their age, and the shared spaces are used strategically to maximise the school's modest footprint.

As part of the STEP Academy Trust, which Park Academy joined in 2017, the school benefits from a wider network of educational expertise and shared resources. This partnership has allowed for a more robust approach to staff development and curriculum planning than a standalone small school might otherwise manage.

The data tells a story of exceptional academic attainment. In 2024, 89% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing, and mathematics combined, significantly outperforming the England average of 62%. The school's performance at the higher standard is even more striking; 55% of pupils achieved at this elite level, compared to an England average of just 8%.

Park Academy ranks 121st in England for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and 4th among primaries in Merton. These figures place the school in the elite tier, comfortably within the top 2% of schools in England. Scaled scores remain consistently high, with reading at 111 and mathematics at 111, both well above the England average of 104 and 105 respectively.

Teaching follows a highly structured, evidence based approach that is common across STEP Academy Trust schools. The curriculum is ambitious, with a strong emphasis on vocabulary acquisition and logical reasoning from the earliest years. In mathematics, the school uses a mastery approach, ensuring that pupils fully grasp a concept before moving on to more complex applications.

Staff exhibit expert subject knowledge, particularly in the core areas of grammar, punctuation, and spelling, where 77% of pupils achieved the high score in 2024. The latest Ofsted report from November 2023, which rated the school Outstanding in all areas, noted that leaders have constructed an exceptional curriculum that is broad and ambitious.

With a small student body, the pastoral care is naturally intimate. The school operates as a close knit community where staff can spot changes in a pupil's demeanour quickly. The behaviour policy is clear and consistent, focusing on mutual respect and personal responsibility.

Safeguarding is a high priority, and external monitoring confirms that the school has a strong culture of vigilance. For pupils requiring additional support, the SENCO coordinates targeted interventions that are integrated into the school day, ensuring that every child can access the high level curriculum regardless of their starting point.

Despite its size, the school offers a range of extracurricular opportunities that utilise both on site facilities and local Wimbledon amenities. Pupils can attend many clubs such as cookery, computing, and drama.

Music & Arts

The school choir is a popular choice for many, and the school organises regular trips to museums, galleries, and theatres to support wider interests and enrichment.

Student Leadership

There is an active Sports Council, allowing pupils to take ownership of physical activity initiatives across the school.

Outdoor Learning

Systematic use is made of local outdoor spaces to supplement the curriculum, particularly in science and geography.

Securing a place at Park Academy is a significant challenge for local families. For the 2024 entry, the school was heavily oversubscribed, receiving 101 applications for just 22 available places. This represents a subscription proportion of 4.59 applications for every offer.

Admissions are managed through Merton Council. Because the school is so consistently oversubscribed, proximity to the school gate is the deciding factor for most applicants. Parents should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their precise distance from the school gates compared to local benchmarks.

Pupils from Park Academy typically transition to some of the strongest secondary schools in Merton and the surrounding London boroughs. Many progress to high performing community secondaries, while a notable number successfully navigate the 11 plus route to secure places at selective grammar schools in neighbouring Sutton or Kingston. The school's strong Key Stage 2 results provide a foundation that allows pupils to remain competitive in these high stakes transition periods.

The school day runs from 8:45am to 3:15pm. Park Academy provides wraparound care on site to support working families. Breakfast club begins at 7:30am, providing a healthy start to the day. After school provision is available until 6:00pm, offering a mix of play and structured activities.

The school is well served by local transport links in Wimbledon, though the immediate streets are residential and subject to strict parking restrictions during drop off and pick up times. Parents comparing local options can use the Local Hub page to view these results side by side using the Comparison Tool.

• Extreme Competition for Places: With over four applications for every place, entry is fiercely competitive. Families living even a short distance away may find themselves outside the realistic distance criteria.
• One Form Entry Dynamics: The small size is a major draw, but it means peer groups are fixed. A child will likely be in the same class with the same 29 peers for seven years, which requires a high level of social cohesion.
• No Nursery Provision: The school starts at Reception (age 4). Families seeking a school based nursery to secure an early footprint will need to look at other local options.

Park Academy is a high performing academic engine in the guise of a small community primary. It offers a level of attainment that rivals the most expensive independent prep schools, delivered within the inclusive framework of the state sector. Best suited to local families who value a small, disciplined, and academically rigorous environment. The main hurdle remains the admission process; securing entry is where the difficulty lies.