Ellingham Primary School

About Ellingham Primary School

Ellingham Primary School in Kingston upon Thames is a state primary for children aged 2 to 11, and it is noticeably undersubscribed relative to its physical size. With 290 pupils on roll against a capacity of 420, the school has room to grow, yet the demand from local families tells a more complicated story. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 93 applications for 33 places, making it officially oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.82 applicants per place. However, only 34 of those applications were first-preference choices, meaning the school is popular but not the top pick for most families in the area. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 30.2%, which is significantly above the national average for primary schools and suggests the school serves a relatively disadvantaged catchment. This is a school that is well-used by its local community but not yet at capacity, and the oversubscription figure is driven more by late-round applications than by first-choice demand.

Academically, Ellingham performs broadly in line with the local authority average at Key Stage 2. In the 2023/24 assessments, 66% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, matching the Kingston upon Thames average of 66%. This places the school 17th out of 27 primaries in the LA, and 5,880th nationally out of 13,686 schools — solidly mid-table. Scores in individual subjects were slightly above the national average: a reading average score of 105, maths at 106, and writing at 83% expected. However, the proportion reaching the higher standard in all three subjects was just 9%, which is low. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2021 rated it Good overall, with Good in every category including behaviour, leadership and early years provision. This was a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2018, when it was judged Requires Improvement, so the trajectory is positive.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including a sports hall, art studios, ICT suite, forest school and an outdoor playground, plus a chapel on site. Sports provision covers swimming, cricket, athletics, cross country, tennis and netball, and there are clubs for drama, choir and gardening. For children with additional needs, the school lists support for seven categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disability. There is nursery provision on site for children from age 2. With its below-capacity roll and strong SEND offer, Ellingham may suit families looking for a Good-rated local primary with room to accommodate siblings or late applicants, particularly those who value outdoor learning and a broad sports programme. It is not the highest-performing school in Kingston, but it is stable, improving, and well-equipped.

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