Edward Wilson Primary School Review 2026: High-achieving Westminster primary with specialist inclusion

A primary where personal development is treated as a serious curriculum strand, not an add-on. The most recent inspection highlights a structured culture of celebrating character, including a kindness medal that pupils nominate classmates for, alongside clear routines and calm behaviour.

Academically, outcomes sit above England averages across the key measures families tend to care about most at key stage 2. In the latest published data, 82.33% met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. A sizeable 36% reached the higher standard, far above the England benchmark of 8%. Ranked 2,323rd in England and 18th in Westminster for primary outcomes, this reflects performance comfortably within the top quarter of schools in England (FindMySchool ranking based on official data).

Leadership has also recently changed. Ms Katy Lawrence became headteacher in September 2025.

Expect a school culture that explicitly teaches pupils how to contribute, not just how to achieve. The inspection describes a community where adults encourage pupils to be themselves, build confidence, and feel safe, with staff knowing pupils extremely well. That kind of day-to-day attentiveness tends to show up in small things, pupils who are willing to speak up, predictable routines, and fewer classroom interruptions.

There is also an outward-facing, community-minded feel. A student council is described as active and purposeful, helping pupils learn about democracy while also taking on charitable fundraising. The PTA adds to that sense of shared ownership, with recent whole-school events celebrating the cultures of Bangladesh, Kosovo, Iraq, Morocco and Britain. For families who value representation and cultural literacy, that track record matters.

Inclusion is not a slogan here, it is built into the school’s structure. Alongside mainstream teaching, the school runs specialist Alternative Resource Provisions (ARPs), including a visual impairment provision established in September 2005 and an autism ARP (Little Explorers) established in April 2024. This is the kind of setting where specialist support and mainstream life can sit side by side, which can be a decisive factor for some families.

The headline academic story is strong and consistent across subjects, especially compared with England averages.

Key stage 2 outcomes (latest published data)

• Expected standard (reading, writing, maths combined): 82.33%, versus England 62%.

• Higher standard (reading, writing, maths): 36%, versus England 8%.

• Science expected standard: 96%, versus England 82%.

• Average scaled scores: Reading 107, Maths 106, Grammar, punctuation and spelling 110.

For context, those scaled scores sit above the typical England reference point of 100, which usually indicates a cohort performing above the national norm across each tested area.

On the FindMySchool league table view based on official data, the school is ranked 2,323rd in England and 18th in Westminster for primary outcomes. This places it above England average, comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England. (FindMySchool ranking based on official data.)

A useful way to interpret this for shortlisting is to compare like-for-like locally. Parents doing borough-level comparisons can use the FindMySchool Local Hub pages and the Comparison Tool to view Westminster primaries side-by-side rather than relying on reputation.

The inspection evidence points to an ambitious curriculum and clear sequencing, including for pupils with additional needs. Curriculum intent is not limited to core subjects. One distinctive detail is that Spanish is taught across the school, including nursery and Reception, which is unusual in a state primary and suggests a deliberate approach to early language exposure.

Early reading is treated as a priority from the start of Reception. Staff training in phonics, matching reading books to known sounds, and targeted support for pupils who fall behind are all described as in place, with daily read-alouds for all pupils to build engagement and vocabulary. In practical terms, that usually benefits both confident readers who want challenge and pupils who need tight structure and repetition.

The main improvement point is also worth taking seriously because it is a teaching craft issue rather than a headline concern. Sometimes teachers do not check understanding and address misconceptions consistently, which can leave pupils less ready for future content. For parents, that translates into a sensible question to ask at open events: how does the school make “checking for understanding” routine across classes, and what training supports that consistency?

For a Westminster primary, Year 6 transition is not a single-track pathway. Families typically apply across Westminster and neighbouring boroughs through the Pan-London admissions system, often balancing travel practicality with school ethos and oversubscription criteria.

The school runs a Year 6 workshop to explain secondary transfer, and it signposts families to Westminster guidance documents on the process. Based on Westminster’s published secondary admissions booklet, common borough options include The Grey Coat Hospital, Marylebone Boys’ School, Paddington Academy, Pimlico Academy, St Augustine’s CE High School, St George’s Catholic School, The St Marylebone CE School, Westminster Academy, and Westminster City School, plus the all-through Ark King Solomon Academy.

Timing matters. The secondary application deadline is typically 31 October (the published date varies by year, but the pattern is stable), so families usually start research in early autumn of Year 6 and prioritise open evenings in September and October.

Reception entry is coordinated by Westminster

The school’s own guidance for September 2026 Reception entry states that children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 are eligible, and the closing date is Thursday 15 January 2026.

Westminster’s published admissions criteria for the school are clear and typical of a community primary:

1. Looked after and previously looked after children

2. Exceptional need (professionally supported education, medical, or social need where only this school can meet it)

3. Siblings

4. Children of staff (within the stated rules)

5. Nearest to the school (straight-line distance using Ordnance Survey address points to the main entrance)

Demand is best interpreted carefully because different published summaries describe different slices of the process. Westminster’s admissions booklet reports 64 on-time applications for the 2025 cycle and states that all applicants were offered with no appeals lodged. Separately published admissions statistics indicate 64 applications and 28 first-preference offers, implying that the school can be competitive on first-choice demand even when most families ultimately receive an offer somewhere on their preference list.

For families who are distance-sensitive, the most practical step is to use the FindMySchool Map Search tool to understand your actual home-to-school distance and then compare it with recent allocation patterns published by the local authority. Distances vary year to year and are never a guarantee, but they are a strong indicator of likely success where “nearest” is the final tie-break.

Nursery and specialist ARP admissions

the autism ARP (Little Explorers) is managed through consultation with Westminster Local Authority, with applications reviewed against entry criteria. For nursery places and early years arrangements, the school website is the most reliable source for the current process and timings. Government-funded early education hours are available for eligible families.

The safeguarding picture is strong. The inspection states that safeguarding arrangements are effective, with clear systems, consistent reporting, and a shared culture of responsibility, plus strong work with external agencies where pupils need specialist support.

Pastoral culture here also has a “character curriculum” feel, not simply behaviour management. The kindness medal and golden ticket reward system show an approach that reinforces pro-social behaviour publicly and predictably. For many pupils, especially those who respond well to clear social norms and recognition, this can make school feel more secure and fair.

For pupils with additional needs, the combination of mainstream teaching and specialist structures is a material advantage. The inspection references effective identification of special educational needs and disabilities, including support for pupils in the visual impairment resource base to follow the same curriculum as others.

Extracurricular life is not left to chance. The published club programme runs 3.15pm to 4.00pm, with a termly charge of £20 per child and £15 per additional sibling for after-school clubs.

Examples from the published club lists include:

• Board Games and Lego Club

• Girls’ Football Club and Boys’ Football Club

• Chess Club

• Karate

• Choir

• Comic Book Club

• Film Club

• Recorder Club

This range matters because it gives pupils multiple “ways to belong”, sporty, creative, strategic, and performance-based options. It also complements the school’s broader personal development strengths: the inspection describes pupils accessing varied enrichment such as trips to museums, the zoo and the local library, plus external speakers including authors and road safety organisations.

The specialist ARPs add another dimension beyond clubs. Assistive technology and tailored resources for visual impairment support, such as Braille materials and accessible IT skills, mean that extracurricular access is designed into the model rather than bolted on later.

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

The school day runs 9.00am to 3.15pm for Years 1 to 6, and 9.00am to 3.10pm for nursery and Reception. Gates open at 8.45am and close at 9.00am, with a soft-start approach to mornings.

Wraparound care is available. Breakfast club runs from 8.00am and after-school club operates until 6.00pm. Breakfast club is £2 per day per child, with siblings charged £0.50.

For transport, Westminster’s published admissions booklet lists Royal Oak as the nearest Underground station, with several local bus routes serving the area.

• Leadership change. The headship changed in September 2025. A new head often brings sharper priorities and new systems, which can be positive, but families may want to ask how the school is sustaining consistency across teaching and behaviour expectations during the transition.

• Teaching consistency. The identified improvement area is about checking understanding and addressing misconceptions systematically. Parents of children who need very explicit feedback loops should ask how this is monitored across classes.

• Admissions complexity in Westminster. Criteria include siblings, staff children, and then nearest distance. If you are applying from outside an established local network, it is worth planning your application strategy early and checking how the tie-break works in practice.

• Clubs have a termly charge. After-school clubs are priced per term, which is manageable for many families but can add up if pupils attend multiple programmes over the year.

Edward Wilson Primary School combines above-average academic outcomes with a distinctive personal development and inclusion profile. The current offer is particularly compelling for families who value strong routines, explicit character education, and specialist expertise integrated into mainstream life through the visual impairment provision and the newer autism ARP.

Who it suits: families seeking a Westminster community primary with a clear culture, strong key stage 2 outcomes, and credible specialist inclusion. The main challenge, as ever in central London, is aligning your admissions position with the published criteria, especially if distance is likely to be the tie-break.