St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Surbiton Review 2026: High-expectations church school with strong KS2 outcomes

A popular two-form entry Church of England primary, St Matthew’s combines a clear faith identity with a broadly inclusive approach to community life. The October 2024 inspection confirmed the school had maintained the standards associated with its previous Good judgement, with strong behaviour, a calm culture, and pupils who feel safe and enjoy learning.

Academically, the most recent published KS2 picture is compelling. In 2024, 83% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, well above the England average of 62%. Scaled scores were also above 100 in reading (108), mathematics (107), and grammar, punctuation and spelling (108), pointing to secure fundamentals across the core. (These are the latest published outcomes available at the time of writing.)

For families, the practical headline is competition for Reception places. The school is oversubscribed, with 289 applications for 60 Reception offers in the latest admissions dataset provided. That ratio shapes everything else about the experience of applying.

St Matthew’s presents as a school that takes values seriously and tries to translate them into everyday routines, not posters. Its Christian vision is framed around “life in all its fullness” and the website makes clear that this is intended to apply to children, families, staff, governors, and the wider community, not only to worship.

The October 2024 inspection describes pupils who are proud of their school, attend well, and behave very well in lessons and around the site. That combination matters, because it is usually the foundation that allows a school to push ambition without losing warmth. The same inspection also highlights a deliberate emphasis on character, including resilience and independence, plus support for social and communication skills.

A particularly distinctive feature is the pupil leadership structure. Year 6 pupils take on roles as “Owls” and “Owlets”, mentoring younger pupils at social times and beyond. This is more than a badge system, it is designed to make older pupils responsible for the tone of the playground and to support younger pupils in settling, friendships, and routines. For parents of anxious children, that kind of peer scaffolding can be as valuable as any formal intervention.

Play is not treated as an afterthought. The school publicly celebrates retaining Platinum status within OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) accreditation, signalling that breaktimes and outdoor provision are planned deliberately rather than simply supervised. In practice, a strong play offer often changes the feel of a school day: fewer low-level friendship frictions, better regulation after lunch, and a more positive tone for afternoon learning, especially for pupils who need movement and social space.

The school’s approach to spirituality is unusually explicit for a primary. It defines spirituality as something experienced rather than seen, linked to awe and wonder, reflection, inspiration, and awareness of something bigger than the self. It also notes that spirituality is not the same as having a religion, a helpful distinction in a Church of England setting that serves families across a spectrum of faith and none.

The published figures indicate a high-performing primary in England terms, with particular strength at the top end.

In 2024, 83% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. The higher standard figure is also striking: 35.67% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 8%. That is the sort of statistic that usually reflects both strong teaching and strong academic expectations, particularly in Key Stage 2.

Scaled scores support the same conclusion. Reading (108) and mathematics (107) are comfortably above the expected standard benchmark of 100, while grammar, punctuation and spelling (108) suggests strong technical writing foundations alongside comprehension. If your child is academically confident, the environment is likely to feel purposeful and stretching rather than merely steady.

Rankings reinforce that message. Ranked 2,360th in England and 4th in Surbiton for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the school sits above England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

Parents comparing several local options should use the FindMySchool Local Hub page to view these outcomes side-by-side using the Comparison Tool, it makes it easier to compare like with like rather than relying on reputation.

The October 2024 inspection describes an ambitious curriculum where key knowledge is prioritised and sequenced logically, with examples drawn from early mathematics building towards later problem-solving. That matters because sequencing is the difference between pupils “covering” content and actually remembering it.

Reading is treated as a priority, with phonics starting as soon as children join Reception and systems in place to identify pupils who are behind and help them catch up quickly. In a primary context, this is a high-impact lever: fluency unlocks every other subject, including maths reasoning, science writing, and humanities.

There is also evidence of deliberate cross-curricular connection. The inspection references pupils applying knowledge from physical education to science when learning about exercise, circulation, and the heart. The implication is that learning is expected to transfer, not sit in isolated lesson boxes, which tends to suit pupils who enjoy making connections and asking “why”.

The main development point identified is about responsive teaching in the moment: at times, checking understanding quickly enough, and matching activities to pupils’ needs so that some pupils do not plateau. For families, this is worth probing on a tour: what does feedback look like in books, how do teachers adjust tasks for pupils who are flying and those who are wobbling, and how is challenge maintained without simply adding more work.

As a primary in Kingston upon Thames, most pupils transfer to secondary school at 11 via the coordinated application process, with families choosing across a range of Kingston and neighbouring borough options. In Surbiton, that often means balancing travel time with school type: non-selective secondaries, selective grammar routes, and independent options are all in play locally.

For children aiming at selective routes, preparation is a family decision rather than a school promise. The healthiest approach is usually to treat Year 5 as skill-building and Year 6 as familiarisation, so that the child does not experience the final year of primary as a single extended test.

For children staying on the comprehensive route, transition support matters more than brand. The most useful question to ask is practical: how does the school prepare pupils for the step up in independence, organisation, and friendship dynamics. The presence of Year 6 mentoring responsibilities such as the “Owls” and “Owlets” model suggests leadership and responsibility are already embedded by the end of Key Stage 2, which usually supports smoother transition for many children.

Reception applications for Kingston residents are made via the local authority coordinated process. For September 2026 entry, applications opened on 01 September 2025 and closed at 11:59pm on 15 January 2026, with offers released on 16 April 2026.

St Matthew’s is a voluntary aided Church of England school, so the governing body sets oversubscription criteria. The Kingston admissions brochure for 2026 entry summarises the priority order and gives a clear sense of how places are structured. It states that a maximum of 20 places are offered under faith-based criteria (criteria 4 and 5 combined).

In summary, the criteria described in that brochure are:

• Looked-after and previously looked-after children

• Exceptional medical or social need, for children living within one kilometre of the school, supported by professional evidence

• Siblings

• Regular worship at St Matthew’s Church or St George’s, Tolworth

• Regular worship at another church belonging to Churches Together in Surbiton

• Distance to the school gate as measured in a straight line, with lots as a tie-break where needed

This structure has two implications. First, for non-faith families, distance can become decisive once higher criteria are applied, but outcomes vary year to year based on who applies. Second, for faith applicants, it is not enough to “identify as Christian”; the priority described hinges on regular worship as defined in the arrangements, plus appropriate supplementary evidence.

Demand is high. In the most recent admissions dataset provided, there were 289 applications for 60 offers, which is 4.82 applications per place. Competition for places is the limiting factor, not the quality of the education once you are in.

If you are applying on the basis of distance, use FindMySchool Map Search to check your precise distance to the school gate, then treat it as context rather than a guarantee, because the applicant mix changes annually.

The October 2024 inspection presents a picture of pupils feeling safe, behaviour that is consistently very strong, and a calm, orderly environment where low-level disruption is rare. This matters for learning time, but it matters just as much for anxious children and for families who want a school day that feels predictable and steady.

The report also highlights that pupils’ personal development is a high priority, including understanding of mental and physical health and healthy relationships. For a primary, this is usually expressed through relationships education, behaviour policy, and structured opportunities for leadership and service.

SEND support is described positively, with early identification and trained staff adapting the curriculum effectively so pupils can learn at their own pace. The practical question for parents is always the same: what does this look like week to week. Ask about how interventions are scheduled, how progress is tracked, and how communication works with families, especially if your child needs consistent approaches at home and school.

Safeguarding is treated as secure. The arrangements for safeguarding were effective at the October 2024 inspection.

Extracurricular life at St Matthew’s is unusually well-documented, which is helpful for parents trying to picture the rhythm of the week.

The school offers wraparound provision through Crystal Kids, with breakfast and after-school sessions run by staff who are familiar to pupils. From September 2025, the published session costs are £10.00 for Breakfast Club (7.30am until the start of the school day) and £20.00 for After School Club (end of the school day until 6.10pm), both including food. This has a straightforward implication for working families: the school has an established, on-site structure that can make logistics workable without relying entirely on external childcare.

Clubs during term time include a mix of staff-run and specialist providers. The published Spring Term 2026 timetable includes Forest School (Years 1 to 6), Art Club, Sewing Club, Lego Robotics Club (Years 3 to 6), coding clubs (including a Minecraft-themed option for younger pupils), basketball, karate, gymnastics, drama, and Rock and Pop Band Lessons. The value here is breadth plus specificity: children who love sport can find regular fixtures and skill-building, while children who prefer creative or technical clubs are not limited to generic options.

Trips and enrichment are also positioned as part of the curriculum rather than add-ons. The October 2024 inspection references a carefully planned programme of trips, residentials and visitors to broaden horizons and enrich learning experiences.

Faith life is integrated in a way that still makes room for diversity. RE is described as wide and varied, covering Christianity plus other faiths including Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Sikhism, and the school notes visits to places of worship alongside services at the local church for Harvest, Christmas, Easter and a leavers’ service. Alongside that, the Children’s Faith Team includes pupils from Year 1 to Year 6 and explicitly notes that members may be from different faiths or none, with a role in collective worship and prayer spaces.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Parents should still budget for the usual extras such as uniform, trips, and any paid clubs or wraparound sessions.

Wraparound care is a clear strength operationally. Crystal Kids runs breakfast provision from 7.30am and after-school provision until 6.10pm, with session pricing published for September 2025 onwards.

For meals, the school states that lunches for the 2025 to 2026 academic year are funded through universal free infant school meals for Reception and Key Stage 1, plus Mayor of London funding for Key Stage 2.

Transport is unusually straightforward for a Surbiton school. The website states it is about a 15 minute walk from Surbiton railway station, with nearby bus routes including the 71, K1 and 281, plus cycle and scooter racks available. It also states that on-site parking is not available and local street parking is restricted.

Finally, families should be aware of traffic management at drop-off. The school states it has a School Street scheme during term time, restricting vehicle access in the morning peak between 8am and 9am on key approaches.

• Competition for Reception places. Demand is high, with 289 applications for 60 offers in the most recent admissions dataset provided. Families should plan alternatives and avoid relying on a single outcome.

• Faith criteria are meaningful. The admissions summary for 2026 entry caps faith-based allocations at a maximum of 20 places and sets specific worship-based criteria. If you are applying under denominational priority, make sure the supplementary evidence matches the published requirements.

• Wraparound costs can add up. Breakfast and after-school care is available and clearly structured, but the published session prices from September 2025, plus clubs, can become a significant annual spend for some families.

• Drop-off driving restrictions. The School Street restrictions improve safety and reduce congestion, but they require routine changes for families who normally drive to the gate.

St Matthew’s is a high-performing Church of England primary with strong published KS2 outcomes, a calm culture, and a very deliberate approach to character development. The combination of structured pupil leadership, a recognised play offer, and a wide club timetable makes it feel more rounded than “results-only” schools.

Who it suits: families who value a clear Christian ethos alongside inclusive community life, who want above-average academic performance, and who benefit from established wraparound provision. The challenge lies in admission rather than what follows.