St Anselm's Catholic Primary School, London Review 2026: High-attaining Catholic primary with strong routines and an ambitious curriculum

At drop-off, this one-form-entry Catholic primary in Tooting feels organised and purposeful, with clear routines and a calm tone that carries through the day. Academically, the most recent published Key Stage 2 results are exceptionally strong, with 95.33% of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is well above the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 23.67% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and maths, compared with 8% across England.

The latest Ofsted inspection (26 and 27 September 2023) rated the school Outstanding across all areas.

Leadership is currently headed by Mr Dobson, who also serves as the school’s designated safeguarding lead.

Faith is not an add-on here, it is an organising principle. The school’s guiding line is about service and walking humbly with God, and that shows up in how pupils are given responsibility early, through chaplaincy roles, buddy reading, and fundraising linked to the parish and wider community.

The 2023 inspection report describes pupils as proud of their school and positive about learning, with older pupils happily playing with younger peers, and a strong sense of community built through shared values and pupil leadership opportunities (including school council and a chaplaincy team).

A distinctive thread is how pastoral language is made practical. Alongside clear behaviour routines, the school signposts Zones of Regulation work and partners with Place2Be to provide school-based therapeutic support for children’s mental health and wellbeing. That combination will appeal to families who want both structure and an emotionally literate approach.

The headline is attainment. In the most recent published Key Stage 2 results, 95.33% met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 62%. Reading, maths and grammar, punctuation and spelling scaled scores are also high at 109, 106 and 108 respectively.

At greater depth, the pattern remains strong. 23.67% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with 8% across England. For parents, that usually translates into a cohort where a meaningful share of pupils are working securely beyond age-related expectations by the end of Year 6.

On FindMySchool’s rankings (based on official data), the school is ranked 2,121st in England and 18th in Wandsworth for primary outcomes. In plain English, that sits comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page to view these results side-by-side using the Comparison Tool, which is often more useful than relying on anecdotes.

A useful way to understand the classroom experience is through curriculum intent and sequencing. The 2023 inspection report highlights an ambitious curriculum built around carefully chosen knowledge, skills and vocabulary, with learning sequenced so pupils build on prior knowledge effectively. Examples include older pupils applying place value understanding to decimal multiplication, and younger pupils carrying forward turn-taking and instruction-following habits from Reception.

Reading is treated as a priority, with systematic phonics training for staff and close checking of understanding so pupils keep up. The report also references a reading culture where pupils share books across ages, including reading with older peers, and using a dedicated reading hut at playtime.

Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is framed as access to the same ambitious curriculum, with adaptations rather than a narrowed offer. The staffing structure includes a senior leader who is also SENCo on set days each week, which can help ensure consistency for families navigating support plans.

As a primary school (ages 4 to 11), the main transition is into Year 7. Preparation tends to be strongest where schools combine academic readiness with personal development, and the 2023 inspection report describes pupils benefiting from structured opportunities to lead, collaborate, and contribute to school life, including buddy reading and pupil leadership roles. That matters at transfer, because the move to secondary is as much about organisation and confidence as it is about test scores.

For families in Wandsworth, secondary applications are typically coordinated through the local authority, and many Catholic families also consider the wider Catholic secondary pathway across neighbouring areas. The most practical step is to map realistic commutes and admissions criteria early, then visit likely options, so Year 6 does not become a late scramble.

Reception entry is coordinated through the local authority. For September 2026 entry, the school’s admissions page states the application deadline as 15 January 2026. The Wandsworth primary admissions timetable also confirms 15 January 2026 as the closing date, with outcomes issued on 16 April 2026 and a final acceptance date of 30 April 2026.

Demand is real. In the most recent admissions data provided here, there were 89 applications for 30 offers for the relevant intake route, indicating close to three applications per place. In practice, that means families should plan for alternatives and list a balanced set of preferences, not only the most popular schools.

As a Catholic voluntary aided school, faith evidence can matter for priority categories. The school sets out oversubscription categories that include baptised Catholic children (and, for some categories, a Certificate of Practice signed by a parish priest), followed by other priority groups. Families considering a faith-based application should read the school’s published admissions policy carefully and prepare documents well ahead of the deadline.

Parents should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check practical distance and travel options from their exact address, then sanity-check criteria and deadlines against the local authority timetable.

Pastoral care has two strands here, a structured behaviour culture and a deliberate focus on emotional development. The safeguarding approach is clearly signposted, with named safeguarding leads and up-to-date policy references, which helps parents know how concerns are handled.

On the wellbeing side, Place2Be is referenced as a partner supporting therapeutic work in-school, including one-to-one and group counselling approaches. That is particularly relevant for families who want early intervention without needing to seek external services as a first step.

The wider culture, as described in the most recent inspection report, includes pupils feeling safe, knowing trusted adults will help, and experiencing positive relationships across year groups.

Extracurricular life is not treated as optional window dressing. The school day structure includes after-school clubs running Monday to Thursday, and a longer wraparound option, which makes participation easier for working families.

Music and worship are closely linked. The school highlights choir involvement in parish events, and notes that singing is central to worship. This is reinforced by the 2023 inspection report’s reference to musical performance opportunities for all pupils, including learning an instrument and performing to an audience.

Pupil leadership also functions as a co-curricular pillar. The inspection report references school council and a chaplaincy team contributing to school improvements and fundraising. The school’s Catholic life materials also reference active Pupil Chaplains supporting projects locally and beyond. The implication for parents is that confident, service-oriented children tend to find plenty of meaningful roles, not only sports teams.

The school day runs 9:00 to 15:30, with breakfast club from 8:00 and gates opening at 8:45. After-school clubs run 15:30 to 16:30, and a longer after-school option runs until 18:30.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still budget for the usual extras such as uniform, trips, and any optional clubs or activities.

For travel, most families will treat walkability and a short, predictable commute as part of the school choice, particularly given the competitive admissions picture.

• High demand for places. With 89 applications for 30 offers in the provided admissions data, competition is significant. A realistic list of preferences matters.

• Faith documentation can be decisive. Some priority categories require Catholic practice evidence alongside baptism documentation. Families should get organised early and read the school’s published policy carefully.

• Leadership information is not presented consistently across all pages. The current headteacher is listed as Mr Dobson on the staff and safeguarding pages, while older documents and some governance listings may reflect earlier arrangements. For applicants, the school website’s current staff and safeguarding pages are the most practical reference point.

• Wraparound relies on an external provider. The extended day offer is clearly described, but families should check day-to-day operational details directly, especially if they need consistent late collection.

This is a high-attaining, strongly structured Catholic primary where curriculum ambition and personal development reinforce each other. It suits families who value faith-informed community life, clear routines, and an academic profile that is well above England averages, and who are prepared to plan admissions early and pragmatically.