Bursted Wood Primary School

About Bursted Wood Primary School

Bursted Wood Primary School in Bexley is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 4 to 11, and it is clearly a popular choice among local families. The school has a capacity of 630 places and currently houses 625 pupils, meaning it is running very close to full. The demand is strong: for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 221 applications for just 90 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.46. Only 68 first-preference offers were made, so securing a place is competitive. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at just 3.2%, which is notably low compared with the national average and suggests a relatively affluent intake. The school has no religious character and does not offer nursery provision or a sixth form, so it focuses squarely on the primary years. Helen Charman is the headteacher.

Academically, Bursted Wood performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 81% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Bexley local authority average of 67%. That puts the school 12th out of 55 primary schools in the borough, placing it in the top 22% locally and the top 10% nationally. The average scaled scores were 108 in maths and 107 in reading, both comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 22% of pupils achieved the top marks across all three subjects. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2016, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in 2021 confirmed the school remains Good, and notably, the early years provision was rated Outstanding.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, art studios, a sensory room and even a chapel. Sports on offer include tennis, netball, football, gymnastics and athletics, while clubs extend to drama, science and chess. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and physical disabilities. Given its strong academic results and high demand, Bursted Wood is best suited to families who can secure a place through the Bexley admissions process and who value a well-performing, non-faith primary with good facilities and a broad extracurricular offer. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Barnehurst Junior School, 0.6 km away.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Bursted Wood Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents