Wigmore Primary

About Wigmore Primary

Wigmore Primary in Luton is a state primary for mixed genders aged 4 to 11, currently home to 609 pupils against a capacity of 630. That leaves very little slack, and the demand is clear: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 145 applications for 90 places, making it officially oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.61 applicants per spot. Of those, 61 were first-preference offers, suggesting strong local confidence. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 20%, which is worth noting against the national primary average of around 23% — so the school serves a slightly less disadvantaged cohort than the national picture, though still a significant minority. The headteacher is Damien Johnston, and the school has no religious character. It does not offer nursery provision or a sixth form, focusing entirely on the primary years.

Academically, Wigmore Primary holds a Good rating from Ofsted, confirmed in an ungraded inspection in February 2024 that found the school remains Good. Its previous graded inspection in 2014 also awarded Good overall, with leadership and management also rated Good. That marks a clear improvement from the Requires Improvement rating it received in 2012. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 53% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — below the Luton local authority average of 62%. The school ranks 30th out of 37 primary schools in Luton on this metric, placing it in the bottom half locally and the bottom third nationally. Individual subject scores are more mixed: 72% reached the expected standard in reading, 71% in maths, and 62% in writing. At the higher standard, just 7% achieved the combined benchmark, with reading the strongest at 20% reaching that level.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sensory room, forest school, music rooms, art studios, a library, sports hall, and playing fields. Sports provision covers cross country, gymnastics, football, and swimming, while clubs include film, chess, gardening, coding, and eco club. SEND support is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language issues, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families weighing options, the nearest Outstanding-rated school is Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre, 0.8 km away. Wigmore Primary suits families who value a well-equipped, oversubscribed local school with strong SEND provision and a Good Ofsted rating, but who are aware that its academic outcomes sit below the Luton average.

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