Judith Kerr Primary School Review 2026: High-performing, German bilingual primary in Herne Hill

Bilingualism is not an add-on here, it is the organising principle. From Nursery onwards, pupils build confidence in both English and German, and that linguistic ambition sits alongside strong primary outcomes. Founded in 2013, this is a relatively young school, but it has established a clear identity as a non-faith, mixed, state primary within the Anthem Schools Trust.

Leadership has recently changed. In May 2024, a school newsletter welcomed Patrick Murphy as the new headteacher, signalling a new chapter after the previous headship.

For families, the headline is twofold: results are well above England average, and demand is high. Entry is competitive, and it is wise to treat this as a school you apply for with a realistic Plan B in mind.

The defining feature is cultural and linguistic, not cosmetic. The bilingual model is framed as inclusive, welcoming children of all language backgrounds, including those entirely new to German. The school’s own messaging stresses the wider cognitive and cultural benefits of learning an additional language, and that tone matters because it sets expectations early, German is presented as normal, not niche.

The latest inspection evidence describes pupils who enjoy school, hold high standards for themselves and each other, and speak confidently about fairness and respect. It also highlights that pupils take pride in improving their German, and that German culture is woven through stories and songs rather than treated as a stand-alone weekly lesson.

A second thread is the school’s emphasis on outdoor learning. The school describes practical, frequent outdoor activities such as bug hunting, leaf matching, mud painting, and den building, used to develop independence, confidence, and speaking and problem-solving through manageable tasks. This is a helpful indicator for parents because it suggests a school day that values hands-on learning, not only desk-based outcomes.

Finally, there is a clear signal of community organisation. The school runs breakfast club, after-school clubs, and wraparound, and is explicit that places are limited and allocated first-come, first-served. That candour is useful; it sets a realistic expectation that childcare is available but not guaranteed unless you plan early.

Judith Kerr’s primary outcomes place it well above England average. In 2024, 89% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 44% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, versus an England average of 8%. These are outcomes that typically correlate with secure core literacy and numeracy, and they indicate a cohort performing strongly across the board rather than relying on a small high-attaining minority.

Rankings reinforce that picture. Ranked 596th in England and 10th in Southwark for primary outcomes, this places the school well above England average, within the top 10% of primary schools in England. These are proprietary FindMySchool rankings based on official data.

The underlying component measures are also strong. In 2024, the average scaled scores were 111 in reading, 109 in mathematics, and 109 in grammar, punctuation and spelling. Expected standard rates are high across the tested areas, including 98% in maths and 88% in reading, with 91% meeting the combined expected standard across reading, writing, maths, grammar, punctuation and spelling, and science.

For parents comparing nearby options, the FindMySchool local hub and Comparison Tool are useful for viewing these primary outcomes side-by-side, particularly if you are weighing a bilingual model against a more conventional curriculum in the same borough.

A bilingual school succeeds or fails on implementation detail. Here, the inspection evidence points to German being treated as an immersed experience from the start, and to early reading being tightly organised. In practice, that means phonics taught clearly, books matched to the sounds pupils have learned, and extra help deployed promptly for pupils at risk of falling behind. The practical implication is that children who are not naturally early readers are less likely to drift, because the system is designed to spot and address gaps quickly.

The curriculum story is also honest. The 2022 inspection narrative notes that some subjects are planned with clear progression from Reception to Year 6, while other subjects were still being developed so that knowledge is identified and sequenced carefully. For families, the key point is not that curriculum development was needed, many growing schools go through this, but whether leaders can make the consistency of “best subjects” the norm across the timetable.

There is also evidence of deliberate practice in the arts. Music is cited as an example where pupils benefit from frequent opportunities to practise and then apply knowledge confidently. In a primary context, that is often the difference between music as a one-off performance culture and music as a taught discipline.

Early years is worth special attention because entry begins at age 3 for Nursery families. The school’s early years pages describe ambitious expectations and a focus on widening children’s knowledge and understanding of the world, recognising that pupils arrive with varied experiences of learning and play. This is the right framing for an intake that includes families drawn by bilingualism as well as families seeking a high-performing local primary.

For a primary school, “what next” is about readiness, choice, and practical navigation of London admissions rather than a single feeder route. The school states that Year 6 pupils transfer to a range of secondary schools across Southwark and neighbouring boroughs, with many going on to Kingsdale Foundation School and local Charter Schools. That matters because it suggests a cohort with varied preferences and commutes, rather than a single dominant destination.

The school also indicates it supports families through the Year 6 application process. Given the complexity of London secondary admissions, this support is often as valuable as any single transition event, especially for families new to the system or applying across borough boundaries.

If you are planning ahead, treat Year 5 and Year 6 as the point to begin serious secondary research. Families can use FindMySchoolMap Search and local area filters to sense-check journey times and compare likely secondary options, particularly if you are balancing commute, oversubscription patterns, and your child’s preferences.

For Reception entry, applications are made through the local authority route using the London-wide eAdmissions system. Southwark’s published timetable for September 2026 entry opens on 01 September 2025 and closes on 15 January 2026 (11.59pm), with offers released on 16 April 2026.

Competition for places is the defining reality. In the most recent admissions dataset provided here, there were 311 applications for 56 offers, which equates to about 5.55 applications per place, and the first-preference pressure is also high. In practical terms, that means families should avoid assuming that a single application will be enough, and should plan a realistic set of preferences.

For in-year entry, the school states it controls its own in-year admissions and will respond within 20 school days once an application is received, offering a place immediately if there is a vacancy, or operating a waiting list if not.

Nursery admissions operate differently. The Nursery page makes clear that places are typically managed directly by the school, with applications for a September intake usually taken around February or March of that year, and that waiting lists can be affected by sibling priority and in-year admissions. The page also signals that the Nursery can be full and that mid-year intakes may not always run. For parents, the implication is straightforward: enquire early, and treat Nursery as its own admissions process rather than a guaranteed runway into Reception.

Open events and tours are best treated as seasonal patterns rather than fixed dates. The admissions page references tours running in October and November in a prior year. A sensible assumption is that tours often sit in the autumn term, but families should check the school’s current tour arrangements for the year they intend to apply.

The 2022 inspection evidence describes a calm and supportive culture: pupils understand different types of bullying, including online bullying, and report that bullying is rare, with adults quick to help resolve friendship problems. That is an important detail for a high-demand school, because competitive entry can sometimes go hand-in-hand with social pressure; here, the external evidence points towards a respectful baseline.

Safeguarding is also explicitly addressed. The latest Ofsted inspection (4 and 5 May 2022) judged safeguarding arrangements effective.

SEND support is presented as integrated rather than segregated. The inspection text notes that pupils with SEND receive effective support and participate fully in lessons, with needs identified effectively and practical and visual resources used to help pupils organise learning. For parents of children who need structured scaffolding, that suggests a school that expects participation and progress, not only containment.

Extracurricular life has three strands that align closely with the school’s identity: music, sport, and community events that reinforce the bilingual culture.

Music is not limited to performances. The school has run a KS2 Choir as an after-school commitment, emphasising regular weekly attendance and performance readiness. That framing matters because it teaches habits as well as songs, punctuality, teamwork, and preparation for public performance.

Sport is similarly structured. The school describes regular inter-school fixtures and weekly sports events, and cites activities including football, netball, cricket, and dance, with sport-specific clubs used for preparation. For children who benefit from routine and team belonging, a fixture culture can be a strong social anchor across Key Stage 2.

Clubs also include options referenced directly in inspection evidence. Pupils reported enjoying clubs such as choir, badminton, and tennis. For parents, the practical takeaway is that opportunities extend beyond the core timetable, but availability can depend on demand and staffing, so it is worth asking early about current club lists if your child has a particular passion.

Outdoor learning adds a different texture. Activities like den building and bug hunting are described as purposeful tasks linked to developing independence and problem-solving. For children who learn best through doing, this can be a meaningful counterbalance to the academic strength evident in results.

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

The school day timings are published as drop-off between 8.35am and 8.50am, with collection at 3.20pm, and total weekly hours listed as 32.5.

Wraparound provision is clearly set out. Breakfast club runs 8.00am to 8.45am, and after-school clubs run 3.20pm to 4.20pm. Charges are published as £5 per breakfast club session for Years 1 to 6, £8 for Nursery and Reception breakfast club, and £8 for after-school club. The school also notes that wraparound care is available until 6.00pm via an external provider, and that sessions can fill.

On uniform, the school positions its approach as simple and practical, aiming to reduce fashion competitiveness.

Transport-wise, Herne Hill is well served by local rail links and bus routes; families usually plan around walking or short public-transport journeys. If you are comparing options across multiple boroughs, it is worth mapping door-to-gate travel times at drop-off and pick-up, not only the headline distance.

• Oversubscription is the main constraint. With 311 applications for 56 offers in the most recent dataset here, competition is significant. Families should apply with a realistic set of preferences rather than assuming this is a secure option.

• Bilingual education is a genuine commitment. German immersion and cultural learning are core, and that can be energising for many children. Families seeking a more conventional monolingual model should think carefully about fit and workload, especially if home routines are already stretched.

• Curriculum consistency has been a stated improvement priority. The 2022 inspection narrative describes some subjects as well sequenced and others still being developed so that knowledge builds securely over time. That is not unusual, but it is relevant if you are choosing the school primarily for academic outcomes across every subject.

• Wraparound is available, but capacity and costs matter. Breakfast club, after-school clubs, and wraparound are published with specific times and charges, and the school notes availability cannot be guaranteed once sessions are full. For working families, that means early planning.

Judith Kerr Primary School combines a distinctive German bilingual identity with primary outcomes that sit well above England average. It will suit families who want strong academics without selecting a faith-based school, and who like the idea of language and culture shaping everyday learning from Nursery onwards. The limiting factor is admission. This is best approached as a first-choice application with a clear back-up plan, particularly if you will also rely on wraparound provision.