Preston Hedges Primary School Review 2026: High-attaining two-form entry with a strong pupil voice

In Wootton Fields on the southern edge of Northampton, this is a two-form entry primary with the scale to offer plenty of opportunity, while still feeling like a single, coherent community. The school opened in September 1997, built to serve a growing local population, and it continues to sit at the centre of family life for many households in the Wootton area.

The school’s most recent inspection (11 and 12 February 2025) reported Outstanding judgements across all inspected areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The principal is Tracey Coles.

Academic outcomes are consistently strong. In 2024, 85.7% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 36.3% reached greater depth in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 8%. These figures help explain why the school sits comfortably within the top quarter of primaries in England for outcomes.

A clear feature of school life is how deliberately pupil voice is organised. Rather than treating “leadership opportunities” as a label for older pupils only, the school lists a set of roles and groups designed to give children real responsibility. Preston Parliament is one example, with a similar purpose running through Eco-warriors, Equality and Diversity Champions, and Wellbeing champions. The point is not simply participation, it is influence, with pupils learning how to represent others and turn ideas into action.

That civic feel is reinforced by the school’s own internal media. Preston Podcast (a radio club) and Preston Paper signal a school that expects pupils to communicate clearly, present ideas to an audience, and take pride in the quality of what they produce. For children who enjoy storytelling, interviewing, or performing, those opportunities can be as motivating as sport.

The wider tone is purposeful, without being narrow. In the latest inspection report, reading is presented as a whole-school priority, linked to vocabulary, writing and spelling rather than treated as a standalone initiative. Staff training is described as a strength here, which matters because early reading quality is one of the most reliable predictors of later success across the curriculum.

The headline picture is of consistently high attainment at Key Stage 2.

In 2024, 85.7% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. The England average in the same measure is 62%, so the gap is substantial, and it is large enough to be meaningful for parents comparing local options. At the higher standard, 36.3% reached greater depth in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 8%.

Looking at subject-level outcomes in 2024:

• Reading: 83% met the expected standard; 41% achieved a high score; average scaled score 107.

• Maths: 90% met the expected standard; 47% achieved a high score; average scaled score 108.

• Grammar, punctuation and spelling: 84% met the expected standard; 43% achieved a high score; average scaled score 108.

• Science: 91% met the expected standard.

Rankings (FindMySchool proprietary rankings based on official data) place the school 2,260th in England for primary outcomes, and 20th within Northampton. Put another way, the school sits above England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England for primary outcomes.

For parents, the implication is practical. Strong attainment at this level typically translates into children entering secondary school secure in reading comprehension and confident with core number skills. It also gives pupils more headroom to access a demanding curriculum later, including higher-tier GCSE content, without needing to spend Years 7 and 8 catching up on basics.

Reading is positioned as the engine of the wider curriculum, rather than a discrete programme. The latest inspection report describes a systematic approach that prioritises accuracy and fluency early on, with staff training presented as a central driver. That matters because the quality of early reading instruction is often where schools diverge most sharply, and it is also where the long-term gains are greatest.

The curriculum approach also appears to take subject leadership seriously. In the latest inspection, curriculum deep dives included early reading, mathematics, geography, science and religious education. This breadth matters because it suggests that quality assurance is not limited to English and maths alone.

For families, the best way to interpret this is in terms of everyday classroom experience. A school that invests in staff expertise, coherent sequencing, and shared expectations tends to deliver lessons that feel structured, with clear routines and consistent language. That consistency is especially helpful for pupils who thrive on predictability, and it can reduce anxiety for children who find transitions difficult.

As a primary school, the key transition is into Year 7. In this part of Northampton, many families will consider all-through secondary options in the wider Wootton and Grange Park area. West Northamptonshire secondary admissions documentation for Caroline Chisholm School lists Preston Hedges Primary School among its designated contributory primary schools for secondary-phase applications, alongside Woodland View Primary School and Wootton Primary School.

That does not mean every child will go there. Secondary choices depend on each family’s preferences, the admissions criteria of the schools they apply to, and the local coordinated admissions process. A sensible approach is to treat Year 5 as the time to understand the likely secondary shortlist, then use the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tool to assess how different options perform academically and pastorally side by side.

Reception admissions are coordinated through West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), rather than handled solely by the school. For September 2026 entry, the school’s admissions information states that the WNC primary application portal opens on 10 September and closes at midnight on 15 January 2026. National Offer Day is listed as Wednesday 16 April 2026.

The school is oversubscribed in the data provided. In the most recent admissions dataset, there were 134 applications for 60 offers, which is 2.23 applications per place. On first preferences, the ratio is also above one, which signals that many applicants list the school as their top choice, not a fallback.

The school also publishes arrangements for visits and tours. For the September 2026 intake, open mornings are listed in October and November, alongside short 1:1 tours. Since the dates shown are time-specific and part of an annual cycle, families should check the current year’s calendar on the school website and book early when slots open.

For in-year admissions, the school states that it is currently full and operates a waiting list system.

Pastoral systems are easiest to judge by how clearly roles are defined and how consistently they are applied. The school publishes detailed safeguarding documentation and identifies named safeguarding roles, including the principal as a lead, and designated safeguarding leadership within the team.

Alongside formal safeguarding, the school’s pupil voice structure also functions as a wellbeing mechanism. Wellbeing champions, Equality and Diversity Champions, and Listening Teas (described as an initiative for wider pupil involvement) suggest that pupil concerns and ideas are expected to be surfaced, not simply managed quietly.

For parents, the practical implication is that the school appears to place weight on both safety and belonging. That combination tends to matter most for children who are sensitive to friendship dynamics, or who benefit from clear routines and predictable adult responses.

Extracurricular life here is unusually specific for a primary school, with named internal groups and a set of external providers offering structured clubs.

Within school, opportunities include Preston Podcast, Preston Paper, Reading Club, School Choir, Preston Parliament, Eco-warriors, Equality and Diversity Champions, and Wellbeing champions. These are not generic “after-school clubs”; several are clearly designed to build communication skills, leadership, and community responsibility.

External providers listed by the school include Freestyle Sports (with options such as football, dance, gymnastics and archery), Hotshots Basketball, Stylestarz Musical Theatre, Kidslingo Spanish Club, Creation Station (art), Rocksteady Music Club, and NMPAT music lessons.

For children, the benefit is breadth with structure. A child who does not identify as “sporty” still has credible options that develop confidence: musical theatre, podcasting, choir, and Spanish. For families, this also supports practical childcare planning, because clubs can make the school day feel less fragmented.

The school day starts at 8:45am. Session times vary by age phase, with an 8:45am to 12:00pm morning for Early Years and Key Stage 1, and an 8:45am to 12:30pm morning for Years 3 to 6; afternoons run to 3:15pm.

Wraparound care is available on site. Breakfast club runs from 8:00am to 8:45am and after-school club runs from 3:15pm to 6:00pm during term time. The school publishes session fees of £4.00 for breakfast club and £10.50 for after-school club.

For travel, most families will plan around local walking routes or short car journeys within Wootton and surrounding neighbourhoods. For those commuting from further afield, Northampton’s main rail station is the obvious anchor point, with onward travel time depending on where you live.

• Competition for places. With 134 applications for 60 offers in the most recent admissions dataset, demand is strong. Families should plan early for Reception and keep a realistic view of the likelihood of admission.

• High attainment can feel demanding. Results are well above England averages, which is positive, but it can also mean expectations are consistently high. Some children thrive on that; others may prefer a gentler pace.

• Wraparound costs add up. On-site wraparound care is a major practical advantage, but regular use brings recurring costs. It is worth modelling this alongside work patterns and any other childcare arrangements.

• Secondary planning still matters. The primary years go quickly. Families considering particular Year 7 pathways should start understanding local secondary admissions criteria and timelines by Year 5.

Preston Hedges Primary School combines scale, strong outcomes, and a notably structured approach to pupil voice. The 2024 attainment picture is well above England averages, and the 2025 inspection judgements support the sense of a school that takes curriculum, behaviour, and early reading seriously.

Best suited to families who want a high-expectation primary with leadership opportunities baked into everyday school life, and who are prepared to engage early with a competitive admissions process.