Pickhurst Infant Academy

Pickhurst Infant Academy is performing very strongly overall. Inspectors found high aspirations reflected in above-average outcomes, with pupils achieving well at each stage and producing high-quality work. Reading and phonics are particular strengths, pupils with SEND progress very well from their starting points, attendance is consistently above national averages, and behaviour is calm, orderly and respectful. The curriculum is ambitious and well sequenced from the early years, teaching is consistently strong, and children in Reception get an excellent start. Inclusion, personal development and wellbeing are prioritised, and leadership and governance are highly effective, with strong support from the Nexus Education Schools Trust and the local committee. Safeguarding standards are met. The school provides a supportive, happy environment where pupils feel safe and are very well prepared for their next stage of education. The only refinement identified in the report's next steps is to further embed the school's already highly tailored curriculum so that it has the full intended impact on pupils with higher needs. Apart from that, no significant weaknesses are flagged.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve above-average outcomes and produce high-quality work.
• Staff quickly identify misconceptions and reteach content when needed.
• Pupils secure essential knowledge in communication, reading, writing and mathematics.
• Phonics and early reading are taught highly effectively, helping pupils read fluently.
• Pupils with SEND progress very well from their starting points.
• Attendance is consistently above national averages, including for pupils with SEND.
• Leaders challenge absence robustly and work closely with families.
• Calm, orderly and safe routines support positive behaviour from the start of the day.
• Pupils show excellent attitudes to learning and are polite and respectful.
• The curriculum is ambitious, well sequenced and meets pupils' needs.
• Staff have excellent subject knowledge and deliver the curriculum consistently well.
• A whole-school focus on oracy builds pupils' confidence and vocabulary.
• Early years provides children with an excellent start in a calm, well-organised environment.
• Inclusion is prioritised and pupils' additional needs are identified and supported effectively.
• Leaders use additional funding well to support diverse needs and wellbeing.
• Leadership has high expectations and takes decisive action to secure improvement.
• Professional learning and trust career development are strong and valued by staff.
• The personal development programme is extensive and includes rich enrichment opportunities.
• Pupils take on leadership roles and contribute positively to the school community.
• Wellbeing and mental health are prioritised for pupils and staff.

Areas for Improvement

• Leaders should further refine and embed the highly tailored curriculum so it has the full intended impact on pupils with higher needs.

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 Pickhurst Infant Academy attended 95.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.1% 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, 1.8% of pupils at Pickhurst Infant Academy 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 Pickhurst Infant Academy had 22.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 7.0% 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, 7.4% of pupils at Pickhurst Infant Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.5% 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 2024–25 Pickhurst Infant Academy received £9,920 and spent £9,579 for each of its 327 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £215,000 (£657 per pupil).

Across all 20 schools of Nexus Education Schools Trust, income was £8,837 and spending £8,693 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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

Pickhurst Infant Academy is part of Nexus Education Schools Trust, which runs 20 schools. The nearest others:

• Highfield Junior School Bromley
• Highfield Infants' School Bromley
• Bickley Primary School Bromley
• Balgowan Primary School Beckenham
• Worsley Bridge Primary School Beckenham
• Alexandra Infant School Beckenham
• Marjorie McClure School Chislehurst
• Alexandra Junior School London
• Farnborough Primary School Orpington
• Perry Hall Primary School Orpington

What is Pickhurst Infant Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Pickhurst Infant Academy is Strong standard, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was Pickhurst Infant Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Pickhurst Infant Academy was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does Pickhurst Infant Academy have?

Pickhurst Infant Academy has 336 pupils on roll.

What age range does Pickhurst Infant Academy cover?

Pickhurst Infant Academy for pupils aged 5 to 7.

Where is Pickhurst Infant Academy?

Pickhurst Infant Academy is at Pickhurst Lane, West Wickham, Kent, BR4 0HL.