Evendons Primary School Review 2026: A STEM-leaning Wokingham primary with consistently high outcomes

A STEM-first identity runs through daily life here, from curriculum design through to the practical projects pupils take on as they get older. The school opened in September 2014 and describes itself as Wokingham’s first STEM primary school, with outdoor learning and a woodland setting woven into its wider approach.

Leadership has recently changed, Mrs Gemma Sloan as Headteacher. The most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out on 27 and 28 February 2024, confirmed the school remained Outstanding and safeguarding was effective.

For parents looking at demand, the numbers point to real competition. For Reception entry, 200 applications for 60 places means just over 3 applications per place in the most recent admissions cycle with oversubscription reported. This is a school to shortlist early, then plan admissions carefully.

There is a strong “learning by doing” thread in the way the school presents itself. The public-facing messaging emphasises curiosity, practical experiences, and giving pupils a sense of ownership, including managing the “natural risks” that come with a woodland environment. For many children, that combination suits an energetic, inquisitive temperament, the kind that likes making, testing, refining, and then trying again.

The wider culture is underpinned by high expectations for behaviour and kindness. External review evidence describes calm conduct and pupils who concentrate well in lessons and at play. This matters because a practical curriculum only works if routines are tight and classrooms are orderly, otherwise hands-on learning turns into noise. Here, the evidence points to a settled tone that lets teachers push pupils further.

It is also a school that puts effort into traditions and shared events. The same external review notes whole-school performances and community moments that pupils and parents look forward to, which helps a relatively large primary (capacity 420) feel cohesive rather than anonymous.

The 2024-25 / 2025 Key Stage 2 outcomes are particularly strong. In reading, writing and mathematics combined, 80% of pupils met the expected standard. At the higher standard, 20% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics. Science is also a clear strength, with 90% reaching the expected standard.

Scaled scores reinforce the picture: reading 108 and mathematics 107, both above typical national benchmarks. The combined reading, grammar, punctuation and spelling, and maths total score is 322.

In FindMySchool’s primary outcomes ranking (based on official data), the school is ranked 1,692nd out of 14,978 schools in England for primary academic outcomes and 1st in Wokingham on the overall primary ranking. This places it comfortably within the stronger end of the national distribution. Parents comparing nearby schools can use the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool to line up outcomes and demand side by side, rather than relying on anecdotes.

The implication for families is twofold. First, pupils are leaving Year 6 with secure core skills, which tends to make the first term of secondary less stressful. Second, high outcomes often correlate with a purposeful culture and strong teaching routines, which is helpful for children who like clear structure.

A useful way to understand classroom life here is the curriculum design language used in formal review. The curriculum is described as ambitious, sequenced in small steps, with explicit vocabulary teaching and systematic checking for understanding. That combination typically shows up as well-planned lessons, frequent retrieval and recap, and consistent routines for how pupils explain, write, and solve problems.

Reading is treated as a core priority. Evidence points to pupils reading widely and fluently, with targeted support for any child at risk of falling behind. For parents, the practical implication is that weaker readers are less likely to drift quietly, the system is designed to spot gaps early and address them quickly.

STEM is not just branding. The school’s curriculum pages describe pupils applying science, mathematics, and design and technology through increasingly sophisticated electric vehicle projects, culminating in Year 6 builds and racing activity. This kind of long-arc project work tends to benefit children who learn best when knowledge has a clear purpose.

Provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is framed around access to the same ambitious curriculum, with adaptations in lessons and swift identification of needs. In practice, families should still ask detailed questions about what support looks like for their child’s specific profile, but the overall direction is inclusive rather than segregated.

For a primary school, “destinations” means secondary transfer patterns and how well pupils are prepared for that step. The school states that Year 6 families must apply for secondary places by the end of October each year and that it supports transition through curriculum, character education, and structured visits and tasks.

What is especially helpful is that the school publishes a breakdown of Year 6 destinations. For the 2025 leavers (data noted as correct as of July 2025), the largest proportions moved on to The Holt School (32%), Bohunt School, Wokingham (23%), and St Crispin’s School (19%). Other destinations listed include The Emmbrook School (9%), The Forest School (7%), Reading School (4%), Luckley House School (4%), plus smaller shares for The Brakenhale School (2%) and Hurst Lodge (2%).

The implication is that most pupils progress to local state secondaries, with a smaller proportion moving into selective and independent routes. For families weighing tutoring or selection, it is sensible to treat this as an individual decision based on the child, not the prevailing trend, then use the school’s transition guidance as a baseline.

Reception admissions are coordinated by Wokingham Borough Council, not directly by the school, and the school notes that applications close on 15 January each year. For September 2027 entry specifically, the council’s published timeline sets out these key dates: online applications open 12 November 2026, closing date 15 January 2027, offers sent 16 April 2027, and the response deadline 1 May 2027.

Demand is the headline. With 200 applications for 60 offers the ratio of applications to places is 3.33 applications per place, and the route is marked oversubscribed. That level of competition means families should be realistic, especially if they are moving into the area and hoping for a place without a strong proximity advantage.

Catchment details are best checked via the local authority’s published admissions arrangements and the council portal each year, because criteria, maps, and tie-breaks can be updated. If you are making a property decision, the FindMySchool Map Search is the most practical way to sanity-check your home-to-school distance against typical patterns, then sense-check with the council’s criteria for the year you are applying.

The evidence base describes pupils who feel secure, with a culture where kindness is taught from Reception and behaviour standards are consistently high. The school also references structured work around diversity and understanding differences, including Neurodiversity Week activity that encourages pupils to talk openly about how they learn and interact.

A practical pastoral indicator is the breadth of enrichment that builds confidence beyond academics. Residentials, trips, and performance opportunities are positioned as routes to resilience and independence, which often matters as much as grades for pupils who are naturally cautious.

If you are looking for more targeted wellbeing detail, the school’s team listing includes a Senior Mental Health Lead role, which is a good prompt for families to ask how early help is triaged, how staff communicate concerns, and what happens when anxiety or friendship issues begin to affect attendance or learning.

Extracurricular provision is unusually easy to evidence here because the school’s subject pages name specific clubs and practical opportunities rather than staying generic.

In mathematics, the school lists Times Tables Rock Stars competitions across the trust and a Magical Maths club that runs weekly. This kind of structured enrichment suits pupils who enjoy problems and patterns, and it can build confidence for children who need repetition but dislike rote practice.

Design and technology activity is also clearly signposted. The school references Evendons Lego Brickies for younger pupils, plus STEM Club, Arts and Crafts Club, and an Advanced Sewing Club. It is a good mix of engineering mindset and creative making, which often reaches children who do not self-identify as “academic” but thrive when learning is tangible.

Languages are not an afterthought either, with extra-curricular Spanish and Italian clubs mentioned by name, and links to the Thames Valley Primary Language Hub. For children who enjoy performance, music is supported through workshops and extra-curricular activity, and external evidence highlights pupils practising rhythms on djembe drums as part of music learning.

Sport includes leadership opportunities, with Year 6 pupils running a dance club at lunchtime and a non-contact martial arts club for younger pupils, alongside teams competing locally and within the trust.

Trips are used to make learning stick. The science page references Year 5 visiting the Jurassic Coast as part of a residential to search for fossils and visits that connect natural history to place. This matches the broader picture of a curriculum that expects pupils to apply knowledge outside exercise books.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still budget for the usual extras such as uniform and paid wraparound care where needed.

The published daily timing is clear: Breakfast club from 07:30, gates open 08:30, the school day begins 08:50 and finishes 15:30. After-school clubs run to 16:30 and after-school care to 18:00. Wraparound care is described under Evendons Explorers, with 2025 to 2026 session prices published as £7.70 for Breakfast Club, and After School Club options priced from £5.95 to £16.90 depending on session length.

Travel planning matters. The school states there is no parking available for visitors, so families should expect to park considerately on surrounding roads or use active travel where possible.

• Competition for places. The figures show 200 applications for 60 places, meaning demand materially exceeds supply. If you are moving into the area, build a Plan B early, including at least one alternative school you would accept.

• A STEM-leaning approach is not every child’s favourite. The practical, project-based emphasis suits many pupils, but children who strongly prefer a more book-first, writing-heavy style may need time to adapt. A tour and a conversation about teaching style is worthwhile.

• Wraparound care costs add up. Breakfast and after-school provision is available, but it is paid-for, with published per-session pricing. Families using wraparound most days should cost it out in advance.

• Secondary choices start earlier than many parents expect. The school notes the Year 6 secondary application deadline timing, so families should be ready to engage with open evenings and decision-making early in the autumn term.

Evendons Primary School is a high-performing, oversubscribed Wokingham primary with a clear STEM identity and strong evidence of calm behaviour, ambitious curriculum planning, and excellent Key Stage 2 outcomes. It will suit families who want structured teaching alongside practical projects, and who are prepared to plan admissions early in a competitive local market. Securing entry is where the difficulty lies, not what follows.