St Barnabas and St Philip's CofE Primary School

About St Barnabas and St Philip's CofE Primary School

St Barnabas and St Philip's CofE Primary School is a Church of England state primary in Kensington and Chelsea, currently operating at full capacity with 213 pupils against a 210-place school. The intake reflects a notably diverse socioeconomic mix: 29.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average of around 23% and significantly higher than the typical Kensington and Chelsea primary, where the borough average is lower. Demand for places is strong — for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 81 applications for 28 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.89, with all 15 first-preference applicants offered a place. This suggests a school that is popular locally but not yet at the extreme end of competition seen in some neighbouring primaries. The school also offers nursery provision, feeding into the main school from age three.

Academically, the school has made a clear improvement in recent years. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, it was rated Good overall, a significant upgrade from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2021. Behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management were all judged Outstanding. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 86% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the local authority average of 72%. The school also performs strongly at the higher standard: 23% achieved the higher benchmark in all three subjects, while 55% reached the higher level in reading and 50% in maths. Average scaled scores were 109 in reading and 110 in maths. These results place the school 8th out of 25 primaries in Kensington and Chelsea, and in the top 5% nationally by the same metric.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, ICT suite, music rooms, playing fields, and a chapel. Sports provision covers rounders, tennis, athletics, cross country, and football, with clubs including chess, coding, and art club. SEND support is available for pupils with specific learning difficulties (including dyslexia), speech, language and communication needs, social, emotional and mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families considering this school, it presents a strong option for those who value a Church of England ethos, a genuinely mixed intake, and academic performance that comfortably exceeds the local average. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Kensington Primary Academy, half a kilometre away, so St Barnabas and St Philip's offers a strong alternative for families who may not secure a place at that school or who prefer its particular character.

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