Pelham Primary School

Pelham Primary School is performing strongly overall. It is a larger-than-average inclusive primary school with lower-than-average free school meals and location deprivation, and no resourced SEND provision. Safeguarding standards are met. Inspectors found no area needing attention: achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, early years, inclusion, leadership and governance, and personal development and wellbeing are all strong. Pupils achieve very well from their starting points, reading and mathematics outcomes are above national, attendance and persistent absence are better than national, and pupils behave well and feel safe. The school's inclusive ethos and support for pupils with SEND, EAL, disadvantaged pupils and vulnerable groups are notable strengths. Leaders track needs and achievement carefully, use pupil premium strategically, and work closely with external agencies. Early years provision is calm and nurturing, teaching is creative and adaptive, and personal development is embedded through enrichment, pupil voice and wellbeing support. Leadership and governance are robust, with effective professional development and parental engagement. The main areas for continued focus are extending writing across the curriculum, strengthening early years support for social interaction, and sustaining above-national outcomes for all groups, including disadvantaged pupils. Published disadvantaged pupil writing outcomes and some attendance for a very small number of pupils with SEND remain areas to watch, though leaders are addressing them.

Strengths

• Pupils make substantial achievements from their starting points and achieve very well.
• The curriculum is ambitious, well structured and builds knowledge and skills over time.
• Early years provision is calm, nurturing and gives children a strong foundation in reading, mathematics and language.
• Inclusion is a significant strength, with early identification and effective support for SEND, EAL and vulnerable pupils.
• Teaching is creative, inclusive and skilful, with effective questioning and adaptive approaches.
• Attendance is above national averages for most groups, with persistent absence well below national.
• Behaviour is calm and purposeful, and pupils have strong attitudes to learning.
• Pupils feel safe, valued and supported, and bullying is rare and addressed quickly.
• Personal development and wellbeing are woven throughout the curriculum and enrichment offer.
• Leadership and governance are robust, strategic and well informed, driving continuous improvement.
• Staff benefit from effective professional development and share specialist knowledge.
• Pupils have a strong sense of belonging through leadership roles, clubs, music, sport and community activities.
• Safeguarding is met, with an open culture and effective oversight.

Areas for Improvement

• Extended writing across the curriculum needs further embedding to maintain above-national outcomes for all groups.
• Support for children who need help with social interaction in the early years should be enhanced to build greater independence.
• Disadvantaged pupils' writing outcomes and broader progress gaps require continued focus to ensure all groups sustain above-national outcomes.
• Attendance for a very small number of pupils with SEND remains lower than that of their peers, although leaders are addressing it.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

• Benedict Academy
• Bishop Gilpin CofE Primary School
• Harris Primary Academy Merton
• Holy Trinity CofE Primary School
• Merton Park Primary School
• Park Academy
• Singlegate Primary School
• St Mark's Primary School
• Wimbledon Park Primary School

What is Pelham Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Pelham Primary School is Strong standard, from an inspection in July 2026.

When was Pelham Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Pelham Primary School was last inspected in July 2026.

How many pupils does Pelham Primary School have?

Pelham Primary School has 392 pupils on roll.

What age range does Pelham Primary School cover?

Pelham Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Pelham Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Pelham Primary School?

Pelham Primary School is at Southey Road, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1NU.