Wilberforce Primary

About Wilberforce Primary

Wilberforce Primary is a school that local parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 56 applications for just 22 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.55. Of those, 17 families put it as their first preference, and all 17 were offered a spot. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation among Westminster families, and it's backed up by the school's performance: it ranks 4th out of 31 primary schools in the borough, placing it in the top 5 nationally for the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The school is a state primary for children aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site, and is led by headteacher Seamus Gibbons. It has a non-religious character and serves a diverse community, with 49.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals.

Academically, Wilberforce Primary punches well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 92% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Westminster LA average of 74%. That's a significant gap. The school also excels at stretching its pupils: 31% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths, and in maths specifically, 69% hit the higher threshold, with an average scaled score of 110. Reading and writing both saw 62% and 31% at the higher level respectively. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. The previous graded inspection in 2018 had rated the school Inadequate, so this represents a strong turnaround. The early years provision was also rated Good.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for a primary of its size, including a sports hall, playing fields, a library, a gymnasium and an ICT suite. Sports on offer include football, cricket, swimming, tennis and athletics, and there are clubs such as chess, art, film, science and gardening. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists provisions for moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health, speech and language communication, multi-sensory impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 141 pupils against a capacity of 236, there is some room for growth, but the oversubscription figures show it's already a popular choice. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic outcomes in a diverse, inner-London setting, and who are comfortable with a non-faith environment.

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