Greswold Primary School Review 2026: A large Solihull primary with strong KS2 outcomes and structured wraparound care

Greswold is a big, busy primary where routines matter and standards are clearly set. Opened in September 1958 to serve a growing Solihull population, it has expanded over time into a substantial, mainstream school serving ages 3 to 11.

The school’s day-to-day language is shaped by its BRICKS values, belonging, respect, independence, kindness, curiosity and success, which appear across curriculum and culture rather than sitting as a slogan.

The latest Ofsted inspection (14 and 15 February 2023) confirmed the school continues to be Good, with safeguarding effective.

This is a school that feels designed for scale, not just coping with it. With a large roll and a wide age range, behaviour systems have to be consistent, and pupils need to learn how to operate confidently within clear expectations. The tone is purposeful rather than performative, and pupils are expected to take responsibility in practical ways as they move through the school.

The BRICKS values provide a shared vocabulary that staff can reference across year groups. The framing is simple, but the effect can be powerful in a large primary: pupils know what “belonging” and “respect” look like in classrooms, corridors, and at play. The values were chosen in 2014, and that detail matters, it suggests a deliberate reset rather than a generic, inherited mission statement.

There is also a clear inclusion narrative. Official evaluation highlights a school that aims to include pupils in “everything that it does”, alongside a strong culture of kindness and respectful relationships. This tends to suit families who want a calm, structured primary experience, especially for children who do well with predictable routines and adults who are consistent from day to day.

Leadership continuity has likely helped. The headteacher is Karen Scott, who took up the role in September 2014. In a school of this size, stable leadership can translate into stable systems, consistent staff development, and fewer stop start initiatives.

The headline story is strong KS2 performance, with results above England averages and a ranking profile that places the school comfortably within the top quarter of primaries nationally.

In 2024, 81.67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 32% achieved the high standard in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with the England average of 8%. (These figures indicate both breadth and depth: a large majority meeting core expectations, and a sizeable minority pushing beyond them.)

Scaled scores are also strong. Reading and mathematics both sit at 107, and grammar, punctuation and spelling sits at 108. These are the kind of figures that typically reflect consistent teaching and pupils who are well prepared for the style and demands of KS2 assessments.

Ranked 2,811th in England and 13th in Solihull for primary outcomes, this places the school above England average and comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England. This is a proprietary FindMySchool ranking based on official performance data.

What this means for parents is not “exam drilling”, but a reliable track record of pupils leaving Year 6 with secure fundamentals in literacy and numeracy, plus a meaningful proportion working at greater depth.

Families comparing local options should use the FindMySchool local hub comparison tools to view results side by side, especially if you are weighing up schools with different intakes and slightly different approaches to KS2 preparation.

The school’s teaching approach reads as structured and carefully sequenced, with particular strength in reading and English. A clear, systematic reading model matters in a large primary, because it reduces variation between classes and keeps children from slipping through gaps.

Daily phonics in early years and a consistent reading approach through the school can be especially supportive for two groups: pupils who need extra repetition and clarity, and pupils who are new to English and benefit from predictable routines and explicit vocabulary building. Official evaluation also points to precise teacher explanations and the habit of breaking new learning into small steps, which is often what makes the difference between “covering content” and pupils truly securing it.

Writing is treated as an ambitious subject, not an afterthought. There has been a stated focus on developing ambitious writing, with progress that can be seen from year to year. That kind of clarity is helpful for parents who want reassurance that writing is taught explicitly, not simply expected to develop through reading alone.

The key developmental edge is curriculum precision in a small number of areas. External review notes that, in some subjects, end points have not always been as clear as they should be, and that some subject leaders are still building expertise to monitor impact. In practice, this is a common “next step” issue in large primaries: the core tends to be strong, then the work is in making the wider curriculum equally measurable and consistently delivered across teams.

As a state primary, most pupils transfer into local state secondaries, and the most relevant factor for many families is catchment and distance rather than an internal “destination list”. For Solihull families, secondary planning starts earlier than many expect, with open evenings typically in early autumn and an application deadline in late October for Year 7 entry.

What Greswold can realistically do well, given its size and structure, is make transition predictable. That usually means helping pupils build independence and study habits through Year 5 and Year 6, alongside explicit pastoral preparation for a bigger site, multiple teachers, and a different timetable rhythm.

For parents who are thinking ahead, it is worth checking your catchment secondary early, because Solihull’s own guidance is clear that living in catchment can provide priority but does not guarantee an offer if demand is high. Using a distance tool to understand your likely position, and keeping realistic backup options, is often the most practical strategy.

Greswold has more than one entry route, and it is important to separate them because they operate differently.

Nursery entry (age 3)

Nursery admissions are handled directly by the school. Children can be admitted in the term after they turn three, with intakes at the beginning of September, January and April. This can suit families who want a school-based early years setting with the possibility of continuity into Reception, but it is critical to understand the next point.

Reception to Year 6

Reception (and any in-year places across the main school) are managed through Solihull Local Authority rather than directly by the school. For September 2026 entry, Solihull’s published deadline was 15 January 2026, with offers made on 16 April 2026.

Solihull’s guidance is also explicit that children attending a school nursery do not usually receive higher priority for a Reception place. In other words, Nursery is not a guaranteed pathway. Families should plan for the Reception application as a separate process with its own criteria.

Demand profile

Admissions demand, as captured shows an oversubscribed picture on the primary entry route: 167 applications for 85 offers, or about 1.96 applications per place. That ratio is not “London level” intensity, but it is enough to make proximity and the admissions criteria genuinely decisive in many years.

Parents considering the school should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check their exact home-to-school distance, then treat it as a planning input rather than a promise. Published distance cut-offs vary year to year, and changes in local demand can move the line significantly.

Pastoral strength here looks practical and system-based rather than reliant on a single charismatic individual. Pupils are expected to be polite and considerate, and adults intervene quickly when problems arise. The school’s approach to inclusion also stands out: pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are supported through targeted work, including the use of intervention rooms, alongside a stated intent to keep pupils fully participating in school life.

There are also signs of purposeful pupil leadership. The inspection record references roles such as mental health ambassadors and buddies supporting pupils with English as an additional language. In a large primary, this kind of structured peer support can be a meaningful layer of belonging, especially for new arrivals or pupils who find the social side of school hard to crack at first.

Safeguarding systems are described as effective, with staff training and clear processes for escalating concerns. For families, that should translate into consistent messaging about online safety, trusted adults, and early identification of issues rather than waiting for problems to escalate.

A large primary can either become “all timetable”, or it can use its scale to broaden experiences. Greswold appears to aim for the second, with a range of clubs that go beyond the obvious.

Examples from the published club list include Outdoor Learning Club and Language Club, alongside KS2 Choir, Basketball Club (Years 4 to 6), and a range of sports options including football, tennis, and dodgeball. The implication is breadth, with opportunities that appeal to pupils who prefer being outside and hands-on, as well as those drawn to performance and language learning.

Residential experiences also add definition to school life. The school site references Year 4’s visit to Standon Bowers and Year 6’s visit to Condover Hall. Residentials tend to be where confidence jumps: pupils practise independence, teamwork, and routines away from home, which can be particularly valuable preparation for Year 7 transitions.

Facilities referenced in school materials also suggest a site designed for variety: named areas such as an allotment, a studio, and spaces used for wraparound childcare. This kind of infrastructure often supports wider curriculum enrichment, practical science and outdoor learning, and more flexible small-group support when pupils need it.

The school week is set at 32.5 hours. Nursery sessions run 08:30 to 11:30 or 12:30 to 15:30, and the main school day ends at 15:20 for Reception and Key Stage 1 and 15:10 for Key Stage 2.

Wraparound childcare is a clear practical strength. Breakfast provision runs from 07:45, and after-school childcare runs until 18:00. (Costs vary and are published by the school; families should check current pricing before relying on a particular pattern of use.)

Travel and parking are managed tightly for safety, with limited on-site visitor parking and restrictions around drop-off and pick-up windows. That is typical for a large primary on a busy site, but it does mean families should plan for short walks and consider active travel options where possible.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Costs that families should still plan for include uniform, trips, and optional paid childcare and clubs.

• Oversubscription is real. With around 1.96 applications per place on the primary entry route admissions are competitive enough that criteria and distance will matter in most years.

• Nursery is not a guaranteed gateway. Solihull’s published guidance is explicit that nursery attendance does not usually provide higher priority for Reception. Families should approach Nursery and Reception as separate decisions and timelines.

• The wider curriculum is still being tightened in places. External evaluation highlights that curriculum end points and subject leadership consistency are still developing in a small number of areas. For many schools rated Good, this is exactly the improvement focus between inspections.

• A large school suits some children better than others. Many pupils thrive with the social breadth and structured routines that come with scale. A child who needs a very small, quiet setting may find a large primary more tiring, especially early on.

Greswold Primary School combines scale with organisation, and its KS2 outcomes suggest pupils are taught effectively and leave Year 6 well prepared academically. The wraparound childcare offer is also a practical advantage for working families, and the BRICKS values provide a clear cultural anchor across the school.

Who it suits: families who want a structured, mainstream primary with strong outcomes, a broad club menu, and reliable childcare options around the school day. The main challenge is admission pressure in a popular Solihull area, so realistic planning matters as much as preference.