Bird In Bush School

About Bird In Bush School

Bird In Bush School is a state primary in Southwark, London, led by headteacher James Robinson. It sits within a competitive local landscape: Southwark has 67 primary schools, 17 of which hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating, and the school’s own ranking among its peers places it 53rd out of 60 in the local authority, putting it in the bottom half. The top-performing nearby primaries include Boutcher Church of England Primary School, The Cathedral School of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, and Riverside Primary School, all of which score significantly higher on the same ranking metric. For families weighing up options, the nearest Outstanding-rated school is Phoenix Primary School, just 0.7 km away. Bird In Bush itself was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024, a rating it has held consistently across both its 2018 and 2024 graded inspections. The school is mixed, non-religious, and serves children aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision available.

Academically, Bird In Bush’s Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 show a mixed picture. The proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined was 54%, which is below the Southwark local authority average of 68%. In individual subjects, 75% met the expected standard in reading, 68% in maths, and 58% in writing. At the higher standard, 22% achieved it in reading, 15% in maths, and none in writing. Average scaled scores were 103 in reading and 102 in maths. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 50% of primaries, sitting at the 71st percentile. The Ofsted breakdown notes that early years provision was graded as Requires Improvement, while all other categories — quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management — were rated Good. No pupils achieved the higher standard across all three core subjects.

The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 52 applications for 20 places, a ratio of 2.6 applicants per place, and all 19 first-preference applicants were offered a spot. Facilities include a dining hall, art studios, gymnasium, ICT suite and chapel. Sports on offer range from football and cricket to swimming, cross country, athletics, dance and tennis, while clubs include choir, science club, eco club, film club, chess and drama. The school has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 56.1%, and its SEND provisions cover moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. Bird In Bush will suit families who value a Good-rated local primary with strong community ties and a broad extracurricular offer, but who are aware that its academic outcomes sit below the LA average and that early years provision needs attention.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Bird In Bush School

Helpful Guides for Parents