Horniman Primary School

About Horniman Primary School

Horniman Primary School is clearly a popular choice among local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 132 applications for just 29 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.55. Of those 132 applicants, 38 put Horniman as their first preference, and 28 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand suggests parents who know the school well are keen to secure a place. While the school does not publish a formal parent satisfaction survey, the high application numbers speak for themselves. The school is a state primary for mixed genders aged 5 to 11, with a capacity of 210 and currently 204 pupils on roll, so it is running very close to full. It has no nursery provision, so entry is at Reception. The headteacher is Andrew Pickering, and the school has no religious character.

Academically, Horniman performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 78% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Lewisham average of 64%. That puts the school 8th out of 59 primary schools in the borough, placing it in the top 25% nationally. In individual subjects, 85% met the expected standard in reading and 81% in both maths and writing. At the higher standard, 52% achieved high scores in reading, 44% in maths, and 15% in writing. Average scaled scores were 109 in reading and 106 in maths. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in December 2023, confirmed it remains Good, a rating it has held consistently. The previous graded inspection in 2014 also rated overall effectiveness as Good, with leadership and management also judged Good.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for a primary, including a sports hall, gymnasium, art studios, a library, an ICT suite, and a forest school area. Sports on offer include dance, swimming, gymnastics and football, while clubs extend to art, drama, book club, gardening, eco club and choir. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is oversubscribed, so families should be prepared to apply as a first preference to have a realistic chance. With its strong academic results, broad club offering, and clear demand from local parents, Horniman suits families who want a well-regarded community primary in Lewisham with good SEND support and a forest school programme.

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