St Dunstan's Cheam CofE Primary School

About St Dunstan's Cheam CofE Primary School

St Dunstan's Cheam CofE Primary School was rated Good in its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2013, and an ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good. That's a solid, stable rating, but the academic story is more nuanced. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 tests, 65% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That's a touch below the Sutton local authority average of 69%, placing the school 22nd out of 33 primary schools in the borough. However, the school's average scaled scores tell a slightly different story: pupils scored 105 in maths and 106 in reading, both above the national benchmark of 100. So while the proportion hitting the expected combined threshold is middling for Sutton, the depth of learning for those who do reach it appears solid.

Looking more closely at the KS2 breakdown, the school's strengths and gaps become clearer. In reading, 81% of pupils reached the expected standard and 32% achieved the higher standard, which is a strong showing. Maths followed with 78% at expected and 25% at higher. Writing was the weakest area, with 75% at expected and just 19% at the higher level. Nationally, the school sits in the 43rd percentile for its combined expected standard, and within London it's in the 65th percentile. The previous Ofsted inspection in 2008 rated the school Outstanding across the board, including early years provision, leadership and management, and overall effectiveness. The step down to Good in 2013 reflects a shift in standards rather than a decline in performance, and the school has held that Good rating across both its recent inspections.

St Dunstan's is a Church of England primary with nursery provision for children aged 3 to 11, currently home to 399 pupils against a capacity of 420. It's popular: for 2025/26 entry, the school received 126 applications for 30 places, with 32 first-preference applications and 25 offers made to first-preference families. That's an oversubscription ratio of 4.2, so getting a place is competitive. Facilities include a forest school, sensory room, chapel, art studios and an outdoor playground. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Clubs range from chess and eco club to film club and choir, while sports include dance, rounders, athletics and football. This is a school that suits families who value a church ethos, a broad enrichment offer, and a Good-rated setting in a high-performing borough, but who are realistic about its mid-table academic position locally.

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