St Margaret's Lee CofE Primary School

About St Margaret's Lee CofE Primary School

St Margaret's Lee CofE Primary School is clearly a school that local families want to get into. For the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 178 applications for just 29 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 6.14. Of those applicants, 48 put it as their first preference, and 27 of those were offered a place. That level of demand is a strong signal from parents who know the school well. It's worth noting that the school is a Church of England primary, which will be a factor in its admissions criteria, and the headteacher is Ian Wilson. With 204 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, the school is running very close to full, which only adds to the competition for places.

Academically, the school's performance is exceptional and explains the high demand. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024, it was rated Outstanding across every single category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This is a clean sweep of top grades. At Key Stage 2, the results back this up. 85% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the Lewisham local authority average of 64%. In maths, every single pupil reached the expected standard, and the average scaled score was 109. In reading, 88% hit the expected standard with an average score of 108. Nationally, the school ranks in the top 5% for the combined expected standard, and it sits 3rd out of 59 primary schools in Lewisham.

The school offers a strong range of facilities for a primary of its size, including a forest school, a sensory room, a chapel, music rooms, and an art studio. Sports on offer include cricket, football, netball, and gymnastics, and there are clubs for coding, gardening, drama, and art. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists specific SEND provisions for dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. The nearest other Outstanding-rated school is Blackheath Prep, 0.7 km away, but that is an independent school. For a state primary, St Margaret's Lee is a standout choice in Lewisham, particularly for families who value strong academic outcomes and a clear Christian character, though the high oversubscription means you will need to be realistic about your chances of getting a place.

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