Westbridge Academy, London Review 2026: High-attaining primary with a structured reading programme

In a part of Battersea where demand for reception places can be intense, Westbridge Academy stands out for two things parents tend to care about most, calm day-to-day routines and strong Key Stage 2 outcomes. The most recent published data shows 89% of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the England average of 62%. That academic picture is backed by scaled scores of 107 in reading and 106 in maths.

The school sits within STEP Academy Trust and is currently led by Mr Michael McNally. A Good judgement was confirmed at the latest Ofsted inspection (24 and 25 November 2022), including effective safeguarding. For families considering nursery, the admissions policy is explicit, attending the on-site nursery does not mean an automatic place in Reception, so planning ahead matters.

The clearest picture of school culture comes through in the most recent inspection report. Pupils are described as friendly and welcoming, with adults they trust if something is worrying them. Behaviour expectations are set high and generally met, with bullying described as rare and dealt with promptly. This is the kind of baseline that makes the rest of school life possible, children who feel safe are more likely to participate, take academic risks, and keep going when work gets harder.

Leadership is also framed as close to the community, knowing pupils and families well, and using that knowledge to identify where support is needed. For parents, the practical implication is that support should feel targeted rather than generic, especially for children who need stability around learning gaps or confidence.

There is also evidence of pupils being given formal roles. The report references a pupil parliament with a structured selection process, plus peer mediators trained to help resolve minor disputes between pupils. These kinds of responsibilities tend to suit pupils who like being involved and heard, and they also help quieter children see that leadership is not only for the loudest voices.

Westbridge’s Key Stage 2 outcomes in the most recent dataset are strong. In 2024, 89% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 62%. The higher standard figure (27.33%) also exceeds the England average of 8%, suggesting a meaningful group of pupils are working well beyond the basics by Year 6.

Scaled scores reinforce the picture. Reading is 107 and maths is 106, both above the expected standard benchmark of 100. Grammar, punctuation and spelling is 109, with 93% meeting the expected standard in that component.

In FindMySchool’s ranking for primary outcomes, Westbridge is ranked 2,592nd in England and 23rd in Wandsworth. This places it above England average, comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England (top quartile). These are proprietary FindMySchool rankings based on official data.

The implication for families is straightforward. Pupils who are already secure learners are likely to be stretched, and pupils who need catching up should be identifiable early, especially given the emphasis on assessment and structured support described in the inspection report.

Curriculum design is described as deliberate, with learning planned to build carefully on what pupils already know and can do, and with subject content aligned across the trust. That kind of trust-wide alignment can be a genuine advantage for staff development and consistency, because teachers are more likely to be working from shared expectations and resources rather than reinventing plans year by year.

Early reading is a clear priority, and the evidence is specific. Children begin learning foundations for reading in Nursery by focusing on listening and distinguishing sounds in the environment, then move into a phonics programme in Reception. Staff training and consistency of delivery are explicitly highlighted, along with regular checks to spot pupils falling behind and provide support. For many families, this is one of the most important practical indicators of quality in a primary, because fluent reading is the gateway to everything else by Key Stage 2.

Vocabulary development is another stated feature, with the report giving an early years example around language for the four seasons. In practice, that suggests teaching is not only about completing tasks, it is also about helping pupils express ideas precisely, which matters for later writing and comprehension.

Two improvement areas are also clearly stated. In a few subjects, teaching does not always focus on the knowledge leaders identify as most important for future learning, and some extra help for reading is not always sharply focused on strengthening blending for fluency. These points matter because they help parents calibrate expectations, the core approach is strong, but there is still work underway to make consistency across subjects and interventions tighter.

As a primary, the next big transition is Year 7. For many Wandsworth families, the shortlist tends to include a mixture of local comprehensives and faith options, and in some cases partially selective schools. Wandsworth’s published admissions information shows a number of popular local secondaries operating different criteria, including schools that use the Wandsworth Year 6 admissions test as part of their admissions process.

For parents planning early, the key dates are worth knowing even while your child is still in Key Stage 2. Applications for secondary entry in September 2026 open from 01 September 2025 and the deadline is 31 October 2025, with National Offer Day on 02 March 2026 for online applicants.

What Westbridge can control is readiness. The combination of strong reading outcomes, a structured phonics approach, and pupils taking active roles such as pupil parliament and peer mediation points towards children leaving Year 6 with both academic habits and social confidence. Families comparing routes can also use the FindMySchool Local Hub pages to compare nearby secondaries side-by-side using the Comparison Tool, especially useful if you are weighing different admissions criteria and travel times.

Westbridge is its own admissions authority through STEP Academy Trust, and the published Reception admission number (PAN) is 30. The oversubscription criteria start with looked after and previously looked after children, then a specific medical need category, then siblings, with distance used within some categories to prioritise places.

Nursery families should read the small print early. The academy’s on-site nursery (Westbridge Nursery) does not provide an automatic route into Reception. A separate Reception application must still be made in the normal way and at the normal time. There is, however, a priority link for nursery children eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium, which can matter in a tight year.

Demand indicators suggest competition. In the most recent admissions data available here, there were 33 applications for 17 offers for the relevant entry route, and the school is marked oversubscribed, about 1.94 applications per place.

For Wandsworth primary admissions for September 2026 Reception entry, the local authority guidance states that applications should be submitted by 15 January 2026, with offers issued on 16 April 2026. If you are looking at this school because of proximity, it is sensible to use the FindMySchoolMap Search tool to measure your exact distance and avoid making decisions based on rough walking routes or postcode assumptions.

The pastoral offer described in official material is rooted in relationships and routines. Pupils are described as happy and safe, with trusted adults to help when concerns arise. Leaders are also described as considerate of pupils’ needs and quick to address barriers to learning.

Safeguarding is clearly stated as effective in the latest inspection documentation, with an emphasis on staff vigilance, clear reporting routes, and regular training. Pupils are also taught about staying safe, including online safety and stranger danger.

A final pastoral detail worth noting is the way leadership responsibilities are used as part of culture building. Pupil parliament and peer mediators are not just add-ons, they are mechanisms for pupils to practise listening, negotiation, and responsibility.

The school is described as offering a wide set of extra-curricular opportunities, organised in partnership with two local schools, alongside chances to compete in sporting events. The partnership point matters because it can widen what a smaller primary can offer, particularly for sport and enrichment activities that are hard to run at scale without shared staffing or facilities.

Trips and cultural experiences are part of the picture too. The inspection report gives a specific example of pupils enjoying a theatre visit to see a musical in the West End. For many children, these shared experiences are where confidence grows fastest, and they often feed back into writing and speaking work in class.

Leadership opportunities also function as enrichment. The pupil parliament selection process and the peer mediator role create structured pathways for pupils to contribute to school life, and for older pupils to support younger ones. For families with children who thrive when given responsibility, this can be as important as traditional clubs.

Westbridge is in Battersea, with Clapham Junction as the closest major rail hub, and strong bus links in the area.

For wraparound care, the school’s published materials accessible here do not set out session times. However, recruitment information linked to the school and trust indicates provision associated with a breakfast club and extended school club roles. Families should confirm the current availability, timings, and booking process directly with the school, as wraparound can change year to year.

• Reception places are limited. The published admission number for Reception is 30, and the most recent data shown here indicates more applications than offers.

• Nursery is not a guaranteed route into Reception. Children in the on-site nursery must still apply for Reception in the normal way, and should not assume progression is automatic.

• Some inconsistency sits outside the core subjects. The latest inspection notes that in a few subjects teaching does not always focus on the most important knowledge leaders have identified, and leaders are working to develop expertise in these areas.

• Reading intervention sharpness is still being refined. Extra help for some pupils does not always focus tightly enough on blending for fluency, which can slow progress even where overall phonics teaching is consistent.

Westbridge Academy offers a reassuring mix for many families, a calm, safe culture with clear routines, plus Key Stage 2 results that sit well above England averages. The structured approach to early reading is a particular strength, and leadership roles such as pupil parliament add a useful layer of personal development. This suits families who want strong academic basics, clear expectations, and a community feel, and who are realistic about the competition for Reception places.