Nelson Primary School

About Nelson Primary School

Nelson Primary School in Richmond upon Thames has been rated Good overall by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in September 2023, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019. The school earned Good marks across every category inspected, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. When it comes to academic outcomes at Key Stage 2, the most telling metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined: 44 per cent. That figure sits well below the local authority average of 76 per cent for Richmond upon Thames, and places Nelson 38th out of 38 primary schools in the borough. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 87th percentile on this measure, meaning around 87 per cent of primary schools in England outperform it.

Looking more closely at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, individual subjects tell a slightly more nuanced story. In reading, 67 per cent of pupils met the expected standard, with an average scaled score of 104, while writing also saw 67 per cent reaching the expected level. Maths was weaker: 54 per cent met the expected standard, with an average score of 103. At the higher standard, just 8 per cent of pupils achieved the top level across reading, writing and maths combined, and only 19 per cent did so in maths individually. The school has no progress scores published for reading, writing or maths, so it is not possible to see how much value it adds relative to pupils’ starting points. With 21.6 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a more disadvantaged cohort than many of its neighbours, which may partly explain the gap between its results and the strong local average.

Nelson Primary is a three-form entry school with a nursery provision for children from age three, though it is significantly undersubscribed relative to its capacity of 416 — it currently has 245 pupils on roll. Despite that, it was oversubscribed for Reception places in 2025/26, receiving 111 applications for 30 places, with 29 offers made to first-preference families. The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sports hall, forest school area, art studios and playing fields, and runs clubs such as eco club, gardening, film club and coding. Its SEND provisions cover a wide spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. For families who prioritise strong academic results, the nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is Bishop Perrin Church of England Primary School, just 0.6 km away. Nelson may suit parents who value its improved Ofsted rating, inclusive SEND offer, and forest school ethos over headline exam scores.

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