St Mary’s Hampton Church of England Primary Review 2026: High-performing one-form entry with a clear community feel

A small primary where routines are tight, expectations are clear, and academic outcomes are consistently strong. St Mary’s Hampton serves pupils aged 4 to 11 and operates as a one-form entry school, which keeps year groups compact and relationships easy to build over time. It opened in September 2013 and has since developed a reputation for calm order and purposeful learning.

The leadership picture is recent and relevant. Lizzie Wayland and Victoria Woodier became co-headteachers in September 2024, and the school has also joined Instanter Learning Trust, so families are looking at a school that is strengthening systems while maintaining continuity in day-to-day standards.

Academically, performance places it well above the England average at the end of key stage 2. In 2024, 87% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. The higher standard rate was 41%, far above the England average of 8%. These results match the school’s wider profile: strong foundations, good progress, and a learning culture that tends to reward steady effort.

St Mary’s Hampton is a Church of England primary where faith is visible but not exclusive. The values of faith, hope and love are used as practical language for belonging, behaviour and community responsibility, rather than as a slogan that sits apart from daily school life.

The tone is calm and organised. External review evidence points to pupils who are polite, courteous, and able to learn with minimal disruption, which matters in a one-form entry setting where each class is a significant part of the school’s identity.

A useful contextual detail for families is that the school has been through structural change recently, joining a trust and appointing new co-headteachers at the same time. That can bring sharper curriculum alignment and staff development; it can also mean new systems, new routines, and a period of adjustment for families who prefer stability over change.

The headline story is key stage 2 outcomes that compare very favourably with England benchmarks. In 2024, 87% reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined (England average 62%). At the higher standard, 41% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 8%. Reading, mathematics and grammar, punctuation and spelling scaled scores were each 109 to 110.

Rankings provide an additional lens for parents comparing local options. Ranked 821st in England and 14th in Richmond upon Thames for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the school sits well above the England average, and outperforms 90% of primary schools in England (top 10%).

The underlying pattern is consistent with a school that prioritises core knowledge and clear explanation. Results at this level usually indicate that pupils are building secure basics early, which then shows up in end of Year 6 assessments.

Teaching is structured and clear, with staff using strong subject knowledge to present ideas in a way pupils can grasp and then apply. In practice, that means explanation first, then pupils modelling concepts themselves, rather than rushing to independent work before the building blocks are secure.

The curriculum is described as broad and ambitious, with particular attention to sequencing. Pupils are expected to use ambitious vocabulary and precise terminology, including in mathematics where correct language supports complex reasoning.

Two areas are worth understanding because they shape day-to-day learning. First, assessment is not consistently used across all subjects to identify gaps in understanding, which can leave some pupils carrying misconceptions longer than ideal. Second, reading culture is a stated development priority, with some pupils needing more motivation to read regularly for pleasure. These are not unusual challenges in primary settings, but they are important for families whose child either needs systematic checking for understanding, or benefits from strong reading routines at school as well as at home.

As a Hampton primary within Richmond upon Thames, most pupils will move on to local state secondary options, including both comprehensive and selective pathways depending on family preference and pupil profile. The most practical point for parents is that transition preparation tends to work best when it is handled early: understanding which local secondaries are realistic from your address, and whether your family is considering selective testing, helps keep Year 5 and Year 6 focused without last-minute pressure.

A one-form entry school can be an advantage here. Teachers typically know pupils well by the end of Year 6, which can improve the quality of references, transition information, and pastoral handover to the next setting.

Demand is high. For the main entry route, the school was oversubscribed, with 90 applications for 22 offers, which is about 4.1 applications per place. This pattern matters because it shifts the admissions conversation away from “is it a good fit?” to “is a place realistic?”.

Reception applications are made through the local authority coordinated system for the borough responsible for your council tax, even if you apply to schools in another area. For September 2026 entry, applications opened on 01 September 2025 and closed on 15 January 2026.

Open events are published on the school website and, for this entry cohort, the school promoted parent talk and tour sessions at 9am in the autumn term. Dates can change year to year, so treat the month pattern as more reliable than any one posting and always confirm directly on the school site.

Parents trying to sense-check options should use the FindMySchool Map Search to review practical proximity and local alternatives, then combine that with the borough admissions guidance for how places are allocated in oversubscribed years.

Pastoral care is a stated priority and appears to be backed by clear routines and consistent adult presence. In a small school, that often shows up as quicker identification of issues and more direct communication with families.

Safeguarding is taken seriously at an operational level, with systems and culture designed to keep pupil welfare central. The November 2024 Ofsted report confirmed safeguarding arrangements as effective.

Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is framed around accurate identification and practical classroom adaptations, so pupils can study the same curriculum as peers while receiving targeted adjustments.

Extracurricular provision at St Mary’s Hampton has a strong “small school, big menu” feel, partly because the school uses a mixture of school-led and partner-led clubs across the week. The Autumn term timetable includes activities such as Choir, Orchestra Club (by invitation), Chess Club, Pins and Needles Sewing Club, Spanish Club, Tag Rugby, Pickleball Club, and Rocksteady Music Band, alongside a range of sports and creative options.

Outdoor play is a distinctive feature. The school runs OPAL, a structured approach to improving play quality and activity levels, with an emphasis on cooperation, resilience, creativity and enjoyment, rather than treating breaktimes as “dead time” between lessons.

Wraparound care is available through breakfast and after-school provision. Breakfast club runs from 7.30am until the start of school, and after-school club runs from the end of the school day until 6.00pm.

The school day is clearly timetabled. Gates open at 08:35, registration is at 08:55, and the school day ends at 15:15, with duty of care ending at 15:30.

For commuting, Hampton (London) station is a practical rail option for many families in the area, and local buses also serve Hampton. Families should expect typical London area constraints around parking and drop-off, so walking, cycling, or public transport can be the smoother choice where feasible.

• High demand for places. With around 4.1 applications per place in the most recent admissions snapshot, competition is a defining feature. Families should keep at least one realistic alternative in mind.

• A school in active transition. New co-headteachers and a recent trust change can be positive for consistency and development; it can also bring process changes that take time to settle.

• Reading culture is a stated improvement priority. Some pupils benefit from additional encouragement to read for pleasure, so families with reluctant readers should ask how reading is supported day to day.

• Assessment consistency varies by subject. Where checking understanding is less systematic, some pupils may need extra reassurance and clear feedback loops.

St Mary’s Hampton is a high-performing, well-organised primary with a clear community identity and strong end of key stage 2 outcomes. The combination of a one-form entry model, visible Christian ethos, and a broad enrichment offer will suit families who value structure, pastoral attentiveness, and a school culture built around belonging. Best suited to families who want strong academic foundations alongside clubs, outdoor play development, and wraparound options; the primary hurdle is securing a place in an oversubscribed year.