St Matthew's CofE Primary School

About St Matthew's CofE Primary School

Of the 100 families who applied for a place at St Matthew's CofE Primary School for the 2025/26 intake, only 23 received a first-preference offer, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.33 to one. That level of demand suggests a school that local parents trust. The school itself is a Church of England primary in Merton, led by headteacher Julia Warner, with 201 pupils on roll against a capacity of 236. It offers nursery provision for children from age three, and the site includes a chapel, sensory room, music rooms and an ICT suite. For a small school, it attracts a significant number of applications, and the oversubscription figure gives a clear signal that securing a place is competitive.

Academically, St Matthew's performs solidly against local benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is just one point below the Merton local authority average of 68%. The school's maths results were notably strong, with 85% of pupils reaching the expected standard and 56% achieving the higher standard. Reading scores were also above the national average, with a mean scaled score of 107 and 81% meeting the expected level. Writing was the weakest area, with 74% at expected and only 4% at the higher standard. In its most recent graded inspection, from 2013, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in March 2023 confirmed the school remains Good.

Beyond the classroom, St Matthew's offers a practical range of facilities and activities. There are playing fields, a sports hall, art studios and a library, plus clubs including gardening, coding, film and book club. Sports on offer are football, cricket, netball and dance. The school has identified SEND provisions for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, as well as those with speech, language and communication needs or social, emotional and mental health challenges. With 9.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively mixed catchment. It ranks 24th out of 42 primary schools in Merton on the KS2 combined expected standard metric, placing it in the middle of the local league table. For families who value a church-affiliated primary with strong maths outcomes and a clear sense of local demand, St Matthew's is worth serious consideration.

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