Kender Primary School

About Kender Primary School

Kender Primary School’s headline Key Stage 2 results sit almost exactly in line with the Lewisham average, with 63% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths against the local authority’s 64%. That places it 36th out of 59 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the bottom half of Lewisham’s state primaries. But the school’s story is more nuanced than that single metric suggests. Its maths average score of 104 and reading average of 105 both exceed the national benchmark of 100, and 81% of pupils hit the expected standard in maths specifically — a strong result. Where the school really stands out, however, is in the proportion of children reaching the higher standard: just 2% in writing and 2% in the combined RWM measure, compared with 19% in maths and 24% in reading. That gap between maths and literacy at the top end is worth noting for parents weighing up academic stretch.

Ofsted’s most recent inspection in March 2025 gave the school a Good rating overall, but with two Outstanding judgements that tell you a lot about its character. Behaviour and attitudes, and personal development, were both rated Outstanding — the highest possible mark. Leadership and management, quality of education, and early years provision were all judged Good. That’s a significant improvement from the previous inspection in 2016, where early years provision was rated Outstanding but personal development and behaviour weren’t separately graded. The parent view data backs this up strongly: 96% of the 57 respondents would recommend the school, and 99% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there. On safety, 99% felt their child was safe, and 93% agreed the school has high expectations. The school’s SEND support also scored well, with 94% of parents agreeing that children with special needs get the help they need.

Kender is a three-form entry primary with nursery provision, currently oversubscribed: for 32 places in 2025/26 it received 81 applications, with 30 first-preference offers made. That’s a ratio of 2.53 applicants per place, so it’s a popular choice locally. The school serves a community with 44.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average, and it has a broad range of SEND provisions on offer, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health. Facilities include a library, ICT suite, sensory room, playing fields and even a chapel. Clubs range from art and book club to gardening and film club, while sports include football, swimming, netball and gymnastics. For families in Lewisham looking for a Good-rated primary with strong pastoral care and a real focus on personal development, Kender is a solid, well-regarded option — especially if your child needs SEND support or thrives in a school where behaviour is taken seriously.

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