Burhill Primary School Review 2026: A large Surrey primary with early reading strength and strong wraparound care

Burhill’s Key Stage 2 outcomes (2024) are strongest when you look at the combined expected standard and the reading profile:

• 69% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, above the England average of 62%.

• Reading is a clear strength: an average scaled score of 104, with 73% reaching the expected standard in reading.

• In GPS and maths, average scaled scores are 103 in both, and 68% reached the expected standard in GPS.

• At the higher standard, 21.33% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, above the England average of 8%.

These figures point to a cohort where many children are leaving Year 6 well prepared, especially in reading and language foundations.

In the proprietary FindMySchool rankings (based on official data), Burhill is ranked 10,641st in England for primary outcomes and 6th in the Walton-on-Thames local area. This places it below the England average overall, despite the 2024 combined expected standard sitting above the England average, which suggests the ranking is being influenced by the broader basket of measures rather than the headline combined threshold alone. (FindMySchool ranking; official-data based.)

Early reading is one of the school’s strongest, most evidenced features. The January 2023 inspection highlights systematic phonics from the start of Reception, with well-trained staff delivering a consistent programme and quick identification of pupils who fall behind. That combination, structured programme plus fast intervention, tends to be what parents experience as “momentum” in the early years: children who need extra practice are noticed early, then supported to catch up before gaps become entrenched.

The school’s curriculum intent is broad, and the school makes a point of using trips and experiences to add depth. A concrete example is the Year 2 visit to Tate Britain each year, designed to support art learning through first-hand experience of a gallery setting. That is not just a nice day out, it is a curriculum choice that makes cultural education feel normal for younger pupils.

A more nuanced point from the same inspection is that curriculum planning has been strengthened recently, but staff subject knowledge is not always equally secure across the foundation subjects. Where teachers are less confident, lessons can be less clear, or can focus less on pupils applying and deepening knowledge. For parents, this typically shows up as inconsistency between classes or year groups in the non-core subjects, particularly during periods of curriculum change.

Nursery provision

The nursery is open to children from age 3 and offers both 15-hour and 30-hour places, with government-funded hours referenced explicitly. Sessions are clearly structured, including full-time provision (Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm) and two part-time patterns. The nursery curriculum is framed around the Early Years Foundation Stage, with a strong language and communication emphasis, and an early phonics start through Little Wandle from nursery.

A practical implication for families is that the nursery is designed as a bridge into Reception, but it is still a separate admissions route. Nursery attendance does not automatically translate into a Reception place, so families should plan for the Patriot reality of two separate application processes.

As a Surrey primary, the main transition point is Year 6 to local state secondaries, with choices shaped by Elmbridge admissions and travel patterns. For many families, the decision is about balancing commute time with a child’s preferences and learning style.

The school explicitly frames its aim around children being confident and resilient for transition into secondary school and beyond, which is backed up by an emphasis on early language development, reading for pleasure and structured learning routines.

Families planning ahead should also note that Burhill sits within a local network of schools through the Voice Education Trust, which highlights shared training, moderation and shared events across its schools. That type of partnership can support continuity in curriculum thinking and staff development, even though the day-to-day experience remains very much school-specific.

Reception admissions are coordinated through Surrey County Council rather than directly through the school. Burhill points families to Surrey’s process for both main intake and in-year applications.

Demand is meaningfully higher than supply. In the latest, the school received 202 applications for 77 offers, indicating 2.62 applications per place, and the entry route is recorded as oversubscribed.

For September 2026 entry (Reception), Surrey’s published timeline is clear:

• Applications open 3 November 2025

• On-time deadline 15 January 2026

• Outcomes communicated 16 April 2026

The school also publishes a busy programme of prospective parent tours and walkabouts across the year, including multiple morning tours scheduled in January, February, March, April, May and June 2026. Families who want a sense of scale and routines often find a morning tour more revealing than an evening presentation.

Safeguarding culture is described in the January 2023 inspection as well-organised and thorough, with staff trained to spot concerns and confident about reporting routes. The same report also highlights a sharp focus on online safety, including adapting the curriculum in response to issues identified and ensuring parents and pupils receive up-to-date information about online risks.

Pastoral support also shows up in the way the school describes its wider development work. Pupils are taught about a range of faiths and cultures, and the pupil parliament structure gives a formal channel for feedback. These mechanisms tend to suit children who respond well to predictable routines and clear “how we do things here” expectations.

The most helpful indicator of extracurricular life is specificity, and Burhill publishes a detailed clubs programme that includes both teacher-led and external providers.

Teacher-led clubs in the published programme include Creative Writing, Spanish, Choir (for both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2), Board Games, and a range of sport opportunities such as Netball, Running, Girls Football and Boys Football.

The club structure also aligns with seasonal sport, with the school explicitly describing shifts across the year, such as athletics-focused opportunities in summer and team sports earlier in the year. This matters because it avoids the “one club fits all terms” issue that can make provision feel repetitive for children who want variety.

For younger pupils, the texture of the week includes curriculum-linked enrichment rather than only after-school extras. The Tate Britain Year 2 trip is a good example of a school that uses external experiences to deepen learning rather than treating them as add-ons.

Wraparound care is a strong feature, but parents should plan early due to published waiting lists for both clubs.

• Breakfast club runs 7:30am to 8:30am and costs £6 per session.

• After-school Stay and Play runs 3:15pm to 5:55pm and costs £14 per session.

Both clubs state a 1 adult to 8 children ratio and list staff training in food hygiene and paediatric first aid.

Nursery session times are published as 9am to 3pm for full-time nursery, with part-time patterns that include Wednesday splits.

The school day timetable is published in detail for each year group. For example, Year 2 shows arrival at 08:30, registration at 08:45, and home time at 15:15, with the total week stated as 32.5 hours.

• Oversubscription is the core constraint. With 202 applications for 77 offers competition for places is the limiting factor rather than the day-to-day offer.

• Foundation subjects are a known improvement focus. The 2023 inspection highlights that teacher subject knowledge is not always secure across the foundation curriculum, which can affect clarity and depth in those subjects.

• Wraparound care is not guaranteed. Both breakfast and after-school clubs state waiting lists; nursery children are not accepted into either club. Families relying on wraparound should check availability early.

• Nursery is not an automatic route into Reception. Nursery is positioned as a bridge into school life, but families still need to apply separately for Reception through Surrey’s process.

Burhill Primary School will suit families who want a large, organised primary with a strong early reading profile, clear routines, and well-specified wraparound care. The school’s best evidence-backed strengths are phonics and reading culture, plus practical support for working parents through breakfast and after-school provision.

The biggest hurdle is admission. For families who secure a place, the combination of academic foundations, enrichment through trips and clubs, and structured pastoral systems should feel reassuring, particularly for children who do well with consistency and clear expectations.