Hackbridge Primary School Review 2026: A high-performing Sutton primary with a two-site model and a standout eco building

Four-form entry, two school sites, and results that sit above England average. Hackbridge Primary School has grown into a large, established local option, with pupils moving between sites as they progress through the school. Reception to Year 2 are based at the Hackbridge Corner site, Years 3 and 4 move to the London Road site, then Years 5 and 6 return to Hackbridge Corner. The school also shares facilities across the two locations, including a sports hall and a playing field.

One distinctive feature is the newer London Road building, which has a national profile in sustainable design. It is certified to the Passivhaus Plus standard, described as the first UK school certified to meet that standard, and it won the 2023 UK Passivhaus Awards (non-domestic category).

Leadership is long-standing by London standards, with Mrs Emma Walford as headteacher, in post since 2015, and serving as the federation head across Hackbridge Primary School and Spencer Nursery School.

The clearest clue to the school’s day-to-day feel is the language pupils are expected to live by. The most recent inspection describes a “happy and positive learning community”, and flags the core rules as “be safe, be ready, be kind”. That sort of framing matters in a large primary; it creates a shared shorthand, especially when pupils move between sites in Years 3 and 4.

The two-site structure shapes the social experience as much as the timetable. Children start at Hackbridge Corner, shift to London Road for Years 3 and 4, then return for Years 5 and 6. Families often worry that a mid-primary move can be disruptive, but the school explicitly positions it as part of the journey and notes that pupils still access facilities on both sites across each year group. That “one school, two bases” approach can suit pupils who enjoy novelty and can adapt to change, while also giving a practical sense of progression as they move into Key Stage 2.

There is also a visible sustainability thread that goes beyond posters. The London Road site is certified Passivhaus Plus, with the project framed around ultra-low energy demand plus on-site renewable generation. The design team and technical detail are unusually well-documented for a state primary, and the project has attracted awards attention. For environmentally minded families, this can be more than a talking point, it becomes a live context for science, geography, and “how buildings work” conversations at home.

Nursery provision is part of the picture, with separate nursery classes on the primary site alongside the federation nursery setting. The published timings for nursery sessions at Hackbridge Corner make clear that start and end times vary by class group, which is useful to know early if you are managing work and pick-ups across siblings.

Hackbridge’s most recent published Key Stage 2 results point to strong attainment compared with England averages.

• In 2024, 77.7% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with the England average of 62%.

• At the higher standard, 29.3% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with the England average of 8%.

• Scaled scores are also high: 107 in reading, 107 in mathematics, and 108 in grammar, punctuation and spelling.

(Performance figures are based on the dataset provided for this review.)

On the FindMySchool ranking used for comparison across England primaries, the school is ranked 2,937th in England and 18th in Sutton for primary outcomes. That places it above England average and comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England (based on the school’s percentile position).

What this means in practice is that Hackbridge looks like a solid “results plus breadth” proposition. The attainment picture suggests pupils are leaving Year 6 with secure fundamentals and a meaningful higher-attainer cohort, rather than a profile that relies on borderline passes.

Parents comparing nearby schools should use the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tool to view these outcomes side-by-side, especially if you are weighing different Sutton admissions patterns and travel times.

The most recent inspection is helpful here because it focuses less on headline judgements and more on what teaching looks like at subject level. Reading is described as prioritised from the moment children start school, with a structured early reading curriculum and books matched to the sounds pupils are learning. A detail that stands out is the mention of librarians supporting pupils’ reading habits, which signals that reading culture is treated as a system, not just a classroom activity.

Curriculum design appears strongest where sequencing and revisiting are explicit. Mathematics and phonics are cited as areas where pupils regularly recap prior learning, supporting later complexity. This “recall then extend” rhythm is often what differentiates schools that produce consistent outcomes across a large cohort from those that depend on individual teacher flair.

It is also worth understanding the improvement edge. The same inspection notes that in a few subjects the curriculum is still at an earlier stage of development, and that assessment is not always used precisely enough to pick up errors or misconceptions, which can lead to gaps for some pupils. That does not negate the strengths, but it is relevant if your child is particularly sensitive to inconsistency across subjects, or if you prioritise a uniformly tight approach in every foundation area.

Early years provision sits within a bigger primary structure, and leaders are described as having high expectations for children in early years. If you are considering nursery as a stepping stone, it is important to know that Sutton’s community admissions arrangements state clearly that nursery attendance does not give priority for Reception, and a separate Reception application is required.

By the end of Year 6, pupils are moving into Sutton’s mixed secondary landscape, which includes a range of school types and admissions routes. The school’s own guidance for families frames secondary transfer around autumn open evenings and open days, with an earlier window for some selective-school events. The practical implication is straightforward: families should plan secondary research early in Year 6, rather than leaving it to the final weeks before the application deadline.

The February 2024 inspection notes that pupils are successfully prepared for their next steps at secondary school, linked to a curriculum that is typically well designed and implemented across subjects by the end of Year 6.

If your shortlist includes schools where distance is decisive, use FindMySchool Map Search to check your home-to-school distance accurately, then sense-check it against historical cut-offs for your preferred secondaries. Even when a school performs well, the practical reality in Sutton is that admissions strategy and timing matter.

Hackbridge is a Sutton community primary, so Reception applications are made through the local authority coordinated process. For September 2026 entry, Sutton’s published timetable states that applications open on 01 September 2025, the closing date is 15 January 2026, and outcomes are released on 16 April 2026.

Demand is clearly high. For the Reception entry route reflected provided for this review, the school is oversubscribed, with 217 applications for 96 offers, which is around 2.26 applications for every place offered. This is the kind of ratio where small differences in distance or priority category can matter, and it is also where families benefit from using all available preferences strategically, rather than “pinning everything” on one option.

Because the school has nursery provision, it is important to be explicit about progression. Sutton’s community admissions arrangements state that nursery attendance does not provide priority for Reception, and a separate Reception application must be made.

Nursery admissions are handled differently. The school’s nursery admissions page states that applications to start nursery in 2026 to 2027 must be made by 15 January 2026, with later applications treated as late.

A large primary succeeds or fails on its behavioural and relational consistency. The most recent inspection describes pupils as behaving sensibly, being polite, and showing positive attitudes to learning. It also reports that pupils say bullying is not tolerated, and that when it occurs staff deal with it quickly.

Safeguarding is also clearly documented, both in the inspection report and in the school’s published safeguarding structure, including named safeguarding leadership roles and deputies across the federation. The inspection confirms that safeguarding arrangements are effective, which is the single most important baseline for parental confidence.

A further pastoral indicator is staff wellbeing and workload management. The inspection notes that leaders and governors support staff workload and wellbeing thoughtfully, and that staff value the support from school leaders. In a school of this size, staff stability and morale are not “nice to haves”, they are often what keeps routines steady and relationships dependable for pupils.

The school’s enrichment offer is one of the more detailed you will see for a state primary, and it is not presented as generic after-school “something for everyone”. One example given in the inspection is a curriculum-linked science presentation featuring a life-size talking orangutan, alongside visits to museums and galleries. That is a good illustration of the school’s approach: experiences are used to make classroom content memorable, not just to fill a calendar.

Clubs are similarly specific and structured. The published extracurricular programme includes, among other options, Jam Coding, M:Tech (technology-focused), Chess, Roller Skating, Martial Arts, Musical Theatre, Street Dance, Football, Tennis, Ballet, and Rocksteady. Availability varies by year group and site, so it is worth checking which activities align with your child’s year and where they will be based that year.

The sustainability identity also shows up in pupil-facing participation through Eco Schools, framed as pupils actively engaging in and protecting their environment. That links naturally with the school’s high-profile eco building story, and it tends to appeal to pupils who like purposeful roles, practical projects, and seeing real-world impact.

Start and finish times differ by year group and site. For Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 5 and Year 6 at Hackbridge Corner, the official start is 8.45am and the day ends at 3.15pm. For Year 3 and Year 4 at the London Road site, the official start is 9.00am and the day ends at 3.30pm.

Wraparound care exists but is capacity-limited. Breakfast club is run by the school on both sites, with different opening times depending on site, and the school advises families to consider alternative arrangements if demand exceeds places. After-school provision operates through a partner provider on each site, with latest collection times stated as 6.30pm at Hackbridge Corner and 6.15pm at London Road.

On travel, the two-site model matters: your daily route may change in Years 3 and 4. If you are planning childcare, commutes, or sibling drop-offs, map both sites early and think through what those mid-primary years look like.

• Two-site logistics. Years 3 and 4 are based at London Road, with other year groups based at Hackbridge Corner. This can be a positive “growing up” moment, but it also changes commute patterns and can complicate sibling drop-offs.

• Oversubscription pressure. With 217 applications and 96 offers on the Reception entry route used here, competition is real. If you are relying on a place, plan a sensible set of school preferences rather than assuming the nearest option will come through.

• Nursery does not guarantee Reception. Nursery attendance does not provide priority for Reception under Sutton community admissions arrangements. Families need to treat nursery and Reception as separate decisions, with separate applications.

• Some curriculum areas still developing. The most recent inspection identifies a few subjects where curriculum design and assessment consistency are still being strengthened, which can affect how securely some pupils retain and explain learning in those areas.

Hackbridge Primary School suits families who want strong Key Stage 2 outcomes, a clearly articulated behaviour culture, and a school that invests in memorable enrichment as well as core learning. The two-site structure is a defining feature; it can work very well for adaptable children and organised families, but it requires planning.

Best suited to families in Sutton who are comfortable managing the Year 3 to Year 4 site shift and who want a large primary with a coherent culture and above-average results. The limiting factor is admission, rather than what happens once a place is secured.