St Paul's Church of England Primary School

About St Paul's Church of England Primary School

St Paul's Church of England Primary School in Southwark is a popular choice among local families, with a clear signal of demand in its most recent admissions round. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 28 applications for just 12 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.33. Ten of those applications were first-preference choices, and all ten received offers, meaning that while the school is oversubscribed overall, families who put it first have a strong chance of success. The school has a nursery provision, which may help with early entry, and its total capacity of 315 is well above its current roll of 161 pupils, so there is room for growth. The headteacher is Angela Batchelor, and the school operates as a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 2 to 11, with a Church of England religious character.

Academically, St Paul's performs broadly in line with the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, just one percentage point below the Southwark average of 68%. Reading was a relative strength, with 90% of pupils meeting the expected standard and an average scaled score of 105. Maths followed at 73% expected, with an average score of 103. The proportion reaching the higher standard across all three subjects was 3%, which is modest, though 20% hit the higher bar in reading. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2023 rated it Good overall, with Good in all five categories including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This is a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2018, when it was rated Inadequate.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, playing fields, sports hall, forest school, ICT suite, music rooms, gymnasium and chapel. Sports on offer include tennis, dance, gymnastics, football, netball and swimming, and there are clubs for gardening, science, eco activities, book club and coding. SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties (dyslexia), social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. With 52.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse and disadvantaged community. For families seeking a church primary with a clear improvement trajectory, strong reading outcomes and a nursery attached, St Paul's is a practical option, though those prioritising higher academic thresholds may want to look at nearby schools like Boutcher Church of England Primary School or The Cathedral School of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, which rank higher in the local authority.

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