Childeric Primary School

About Childeric Primary School

Childeric Primary School in Lewisham sits slightly above the local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes, with 66% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with 64% across the borough. That gap is modest but meaningful for a school where over half of pupils (54.9%) are eligible for free school meals, a figure well above the national average. The school ranks 26th out of 59 primary schools in Lewisham, placing it in the top half of the local authority. Its overall Ofsted rating is Good, following a graded inspection in 2012 and an ungraded visit in 2023 that confirmed the school remains Good. Notably, leadership and management were judged Outstanding in that most recent inspection, and the school has clearly improved since its previous graded inspection in 2009, when it was rated Requires Improvement. The headteacher, Colin Bessant, leads a school that serves 373 pupils from ages 3 to 11, with capacity for 420.

Academically, the school performs solidly across the core subjects. In reading, 75% of pupils met the expected standard and 26% achieved a higher score, with an average scaled score of 107. In maths, 77% met the expected standard and 30% reached the higher threshold, again with an average score of 107. Writing saw 70% at expected and 13% at a higher level. These figures are broadly in line with or slightly above national averages for similar schools. The school’s Progress 8 data is not available, but the KS2 outcomes suggest pupils generally make typical progress from their starting points. In the local context, Childeric sits behind top performers like Haberdashers' Hatcham Free School and St Augustine's Catholic Primary, but it holds its own in the middle of the pack. The school offers a nursery provision, though it does not have a sixth form, and it is a mixed, non-religious state primary.

The school is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 61 applications for 31 places, with all 31 first-preference applicants receiving offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.97. Facilities include a sensory room, art studios, a gymnasium, library, ICT suite, playing fields and a chapel. Sports on offer include athletics, rounders, football and cross country, while clubs range from drama and chess to gardening, book club and science club. The school has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties (dyslexia), social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties. This combination of strong leadership, above-average outcomes for its intake, and a broad range of facilities and support makes Childeric a solid choice for families in Lewisham seeking a well-run, inclusive primary that delivers consistent results without being flashy.

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