Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School

Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School is a welcoming, nurturing primary where pupils are happy and safe and parents describe it as like a family. Inspectors found the school performing well across all key judgements, with an ambitious and inclusive curriculum, strong early reading provision, effective support for pupils with SEND and positive personal development. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. This was the school's first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic; it had previously been exempt from routine inspection after an outstanding judgement and, under current arrangements, no overall effectiveness grade is awarded. The main areas for improvement are focused rather than widespread. In a small number of subjects, some curriculum changes are not yet securely embedded and not all teachers have had the training needed to deliver new subject content consistently, so some pupils' knowledge is insecure and misconceptions are occasionally missed. Phonics teaching is generally skilled, but practice is not always consistent and some reading books are not accurately matched to pupils' phonics knowledge, which can slow fluency for a small number of pupils. Attendance is improving steadily and leaders are taking appropriate action to raise it further.

Strengths

• Warm, nurturing and inclusive culture where pupils feel happy and safe
• Parents speak highly of supportive staff and describe the school as like a family
• Ambitious and inclusive curriculum that prepares pupils well for the next stage
• Strong focus on early reading, with well-trained staff and effective catch-up support
• Pupils develop and use subject-specific vocabulary confidently across many subjects
• SEND needs identified swiftly, with appropriate support and specialist external agencies
• Clear behaviour expectations; pupils are focused, listen well and cooperate calmly
• Rich personal development through trips, clubs, music and community contributions
• Effective governance providing appropriate support and challenge
• Staff workload and well-being are generally considered and training is appreciated
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• In a small number of subjects, essential knowledge is not taught in sufficient depth, leaving some pupils' knowledge insecure
• Some recent curriculum changes are not securely embedded across subjects
• Not all teachers have the training needed to teach new subject curricula consistently
• Staff do not always address pupils' misconceptions promptly
• Phonics practice is not always consistent with the school's own programme expectations
• Some reading books are not accurately matched to pupils' phonics knowledge, limiting fluency progress
• Attendance rates are improving but remain an area requiring continued action

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School attended 95.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 10.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School had 22.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 43.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 13.0% of pupils at Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 6.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School received £10,833 and spent £9,746 for each of its 238 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £292,000 (£1,226 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

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All schools in Lambeth · Lambeth local authority: places and applications

What is Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School is Good, from an inspection in June 2025.

When was Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School was last inspected in June 2025.

How many pupils does Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School have?

Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School has 238 pupils on roll.

What age range does Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School cover?

Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School?

Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School is at Reedworth Street, Lambeth, Kennington, London, SE11 4PH.