Thames Ditton Junior School Review 2026: High-attaining junior years, strong curriculum breadth

A junior school only works when the handover at Year 3 feels seamless. Thames Ditton Junior School has built that reputation in a part of Elmbridge where families often compare options closely, and where expectations tend to be high. The current academy is part of the Hinchley Wood Learning Partnership, and it occupies the same Mercer Close site as the predecessor school that converted in late 2022.

Academic outcomes at the end of primary are a clear headline here. In 2024, 85.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, well above the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 43.33% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with the England average of 8%. Performance sits well above England average (top 10%), based on FindMySchool rankings drawn from official data, ranked 826th in England and 3rd locally (Thames Ditton area) for primary outcomes.

Leadership is stable at trust level, and current headship is held by Matthew Lewis.

Because this is a junior school (Years 3 to 6), the culture typically needs to do two things at once. It has to settle new pupils quickly at seven, while raising the level of independence and study habits so pupils leave at 11 ready for secondary routines. External reviews describe pupils who feel safe, listened to, and generally confident about speaking up when something is not right.

The school’s values language has been a long-running feature of how expectations are communicated. In earlier inspection evidence, leaders emphasised a clear moral framework, and staff were described as having strong knowledge of individual pupils, which matters most in the junior years when confidence can shift quickly after transition from infant settings.

There is also a strong inclusion thread. The predecessor school operated a specialist support centre, and inspection reporting described pupils with special educational needs, including those supported through that centre, making good progress, particularly in Years 5 and 6. That matters for families weighing whether a junior school can provide both stretch and targeted support without either dominating.

This is an academically high-performing junior school on 2024 end of primary outcomes. The most useful way to read the data is in layers, expected standard for the broad picture, higher standard for stretch, and scaled scores for the overall attainment profile in reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Expected standard (2024)

In 2024, 85.67% met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined. The England average is 62%, so the gap is substantial.

Higher standard (2024)

At greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, 43.33% reached the higher standard. The England average is 8%, which indicates that high prior attainers are being pushed, not simply kept comfortable.

Scaled scores and subject specifics (2024)

Reading scaled score sits at 110 and maths at 109, with grammar, punctuation and spelling at 109. Expected standard rates are high across the board, including 90% in reading, 84% in maths, 86% in grammar, punctuation and spelling, and 90% in science.

How this compares in context

FindMySchool’s 2024 primary ranking places the school 826th in England and 3rd locally (Thames Ditton area), which translates to performance well above England average (top 10%) when benchmarked against other schools in England on the same outcome set.

Families comparing options locally can use the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tool to put these outcomes alongside nearby junior and primary schools, which is often more informative than relying on reputation alone.

The evidence base points to a curriculum that aims beyond narrow test preparation. Earlier inspection reporting described curriculum enrichment through visits, visitors, and a wide spread of additional activities, alongside subject provision such as French. That combination tends to work well in junior schools where pupils arrive with mixed confidence levels after infant school, some ready for challenge, others needing careful rebuilding of basics in writing or number sense.

A consistent theme in inspection evidence is clarity of direction, with staff and governance aligned around improving learning experiences and maintaining quality. For parents, the practical implication is that teaching is likely to feel structured rather than experimental, and that progress checking should be taken seriously, particularly for pupils who need targeted intervention.

One useful nuance from historic inspection documentation is that leaders have previously focused on ensuring pupils are stretched appropriately, especially in mathematics. For high-attaining pupils, that focus matters. For everyone else, it typically translates into lessons that move at a purposeful pace, with teachers expected to spot misconceptions early rather than letting them embed.

As a junior school, the key transition is Year 6 to Year 7. Local mainstream secondary provision is centred on schools in the Hinchley Wood and Esher area, with Hinchley Wood School commonly referenced as a local secondary destination for the wider Thames Ditton community.

The most important question for families is whether their child thrives in a larger secondary setting after a junior environment. A good junior school prepares pupils by steadily increasing independence, homework expectations, and personal organisation in Years 5 and 6. Earlier inspection evidence supports the idea that pupils develop confidence and maturity, with opportunities for responsibility and structured personal development.

If you are shortlisting secondaries at the same time, it is sensible to map transport and travel time early. Thames Ditton has rail links, with Thames Ditton station on the Hampton Court branch, and connections via Surbiton for faster routes.

Thames Ditton Junior School is a junior intake school, so the standard point of entry is Year 3 (age 7) for children moving on from infant school. For September 2026 entry to Year 3 at a junior school in Surrey, the local authority route applies. Surrey states that applications open 3 November 2025 and the closing date is 15 January 2026 for a Year 3 place starting in September 2026, using the primary school application route.

In practice, junior school admissions are often shaped by a mix of distance, sibling links, and local authority rules for coordinated admissions. Because allocations and demand vary year to year, families should treat any single year’s pattern as indicative rather than guaranteed. If you are weighing your chances, FindMySchoolMap Search is the most practical way to sanity-check travel assumptions, especially if you are considering a move or are on the edge of the likely intake area.

Pastoral strength in a junior school shows up in predictable places, how adults respond to concerns, how behaviour is handled day to day, and whether pupils can explain how to stay safe, including online. In the most recent inspection evidence available for the predecessor school, safeguarding was described as effective, with clear systems for recording concerns and following them up appropriately, and pupils reporting that adults listen and take concerns seriously.

Behaviour was also described as consistently strong across typical school routines, classrooms, playground, and movement around the site. That matters for learning time in Years 3 and 4, where low-level disruption is often the biggest drag on progress if it is not handled tightly.

For pupils who need additional support, historic inspection reporting highlights specialist SEN arrangements, including a special support centre, and positive progress for pupils with special educational needs. Parents of children with SEND should still ask practical questions during visits, including staffing stability, intervention structure, and how targets are monitored across the year, because models can evolve after academy conversion.

A junior school experience is at its best when the day feels broader than English and maths. Inspection history for the school includes concrete examples of enrichment that go beyond generic club lists.

Music and performance

Earlier inspection reporting described a school choir that performed strongly, along with recorder teaching that built musical understanding, and wider opportunities through school productions and local festivals, including a planned performance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Trips and wider experiences

Residential experiences were described as a feature, including a week in France, positioned as building independence and teamwork as well as supporting language learning.

Sport and outdoor provision

Historic inspection reporting described extensive outdoor facilities and a strong range of physical activities, with cross country specifically referenced, alongside broad participation opportunities.

Parent partnership and community activity

The predecessor school’s parent association activity was described as substantial, using events such as quiz nights and a fashion show to raise funds that feed back into learning resources. That sort of family engagement is often a meaningful indicator of school cohesion, especially in junior settings where parents still play a large role in homework routines and attendance culture.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still plan for the normal associated costs, uniform, trips, and optional clubs or music tuition.

Transport-wise, Thames Ditton is served by a rail link to London Waterloo via the Hampton Court branch, with connections through Surbiton for faster services, and local bus routes serving the area. For day-to-day logistics, the most practical check is walking time from your front door and whether a school run is realistic without a car.

Wraparound care arrangements can vary in junior schools, sometimes run directly, sometimes through third-party providers. Where care is essential to your week, confirm breakfast and after-school availability directly before relying on it.

• Junior-only structure. Entry at Year 3 can be a positive reset for children ready for a fresh start, but it does mean a second transition earlier than in all-through primaries. Consider how your child copes with change at seven.

• High attainment culture. The outcomes suggest many pupils are working above expected levels by Year 6. For some children this is motivating; for others it can feel pressured if they need more time to consolidate core skills.

• Inspection recency and academy status. The current academy has not yet had a standard graded inspection report in its own right; the most recent published inspection evidence sits with the predecessor school, including a short inspection in March 2018 confirming the Good judgement from 2014.

• Wraparound certainty. If childcare hours are a make-or-break factor, do not assume provision. Confirm the exact hours, booking system, and holiday coverage before committing to a plan built around it.

Thames Ditton Junior School stands out for consistently high end of primary outcomes and a culture that combines clear expectations with a broad curriculum diet. It will suit families who want a structured junior phase, strong academic stretch, and a school where pupils are expected to take responsibility as they move through Years 5 and 6. The key decision points are practical, how your child handles a Year 3 transition, and whether your family schedule depends on wraparound care that needs confirming in detail.