Education in London has always held a special kind of prestige. Across the capital’s patchwork of boroughs, from the avenues of Hampstead to the streets of East Ham, a handful of primary schools have built reputations for excellence, with the kind of dedication that extends far beyond test results.
In this guide, we reveal ten London primary schools that are setting the standard for success.
Hampden Gurney CofE Primary School, Westminster
Founded in 1863, Hampden Gurney Church of England Primary School is a small yet mighty institution tucked just behind Marble Arch. Its understated red-brick exterior belies a school of extraordinary results and takes the title of Primary School of the Year 2025, by securing an exceptional overall score of 115.3 out of 120 across reading, writing and maths.
Class sizes are small, teaching is consistently exceptional and pupils benefit from a nurturing environment that feels more like a family than a school. Hampden Gurney has recently introduced a ‘worry box’ to allow pupils to express their anxieties through drawings or written notes and also features a ‘regulation zone’ where children can identify unsettling emotions using colours and smiley or sad faces and access strategies to help manage them.
St Stephen’s Primary School, East Ham
Named Primary School of the Year in London for 2025 by The Times, St Stephen’s Primary has become something of a phenomenon in recent years. Known best for its innovative approach and inclusive ethos, the school has been ranked the number one state primary school in the country and has remained in the top ten of The Sunday Times list for the past decade. Ofsted has also recognised the school with Outstanding outcomes across all areas of the Federation.
St Stephen’s Primary School encourages a global outlook and a commitment to British values to prepare pupils to be responsible, empathetic and engaged citizens who are equipped to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
St Andrew’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Streatham
In Streatham, St Andrew’s stands as a beacon of faith-led learning done exceptionally well. The Roman Catholic primary consistently achieves some of the strongest results in south London and is guided by its motto: Faith. Unity. Excellence.
Pupils continue to achieve outstanding results, with 94% meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths and 23% reaching a higher standard — well above local and national averages.
Judith Kerr Primary School, Herne Hill
Named after the beloved children’s author of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Judith Kerr Primary School is a relative newcomer with a refreshingly modern outlook. Established as a bilingual English–German free school, its bright classrooms and open-plan design reflect its progressive ethos.
Bilingualism is the key focus, with the school welcoming children of all language abilities and promoting the cognitive and cultural benefits of learning an additional language. The school’s average scaled scores were 105 in reading and 106 in mathematics, reflecting strong overall performance compared with national averages. As part of the Anthem Schools Trust, JKPS also benefits from a wider network of schools to ensure the highest standards of education and opportunities for all pupils.
St Stephen’s CofE Primary School, Shepherd’s Bush
Located in West London, another St Stephen’s makes the list, yet this time in Shepherd’s Bush. Like its East Ham namesake, it is a Church of England school that balances traditional Christian values with a forward-thinking education.
In 2025, St Stephen’s pupils achieved exceptional results at the end of Key Stage 2, with outcomes significantly above national averages across all subjects. Ninety-eight per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading and over two-thirds achieved Greater Depth in several areas.
Akiva School, Finchley
As one of the city’s leading Jewish primary schools, Akiva in Finchley offers an outstanding education within a strong cultural and ethical framework. Established in 1981 as the first Progressive Jewish primary school in the country, Akiva provides an inclusive environment that welcomes children from a range of backgrounds. The school moved into its purpose-built premises in 2008 and today educates around 420 pupils from Reception to Year 6.
Akiva places the teaching of thinking skills at the heart of its curriculum and was proud to become Barnet’s first accredited Thinking School in 2013, with re-accreditation achieved in 2016. In the most recently published results, 92% of pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, placing the school well above national averages.
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Wanstead
Our Lady of Lourdes in Wanstead has become synonymous with excellence in East London. Ranked within the top 1% of primary schools nationally, the staff provide a personalised and ambitious curriculum that is designed to inspire future leaders and professionals.
The school is rooted in core values and faith and prepares each child to contribute positively to society whilst consistently achieving outstanding academic outcomes, placing well above national averages. Pupils demonstrate exceptional academic progress, with high attainment in both reading and mathematics.
Hampstead Parochial CofE Primary School, Hampstead
Perched among the elegant streets of Hampstead Village, Hampstead Parochial is one of North London’s most sought-after schools. Founded in 1787 by Thomas Mitchell, Hampstead Parochial Church of England Primary School grew from the Sunday School of St John-at-Hampstead. In the 19th century, the Revd Thomas Ainger expanded educational opportunities for local children and oversaw the construction of the school’s red-brick buildings, which still house the school.
Today, the Church of England ethos underpins everything here, from its focus on compassion to its high expectations for achievement. In the most recent published results, the school achieved 100% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading and mathematics and 97% in writing, with 48% of pupils reaching the higher standard overall.
St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Willesden
St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School is a long-established and inclusive Catholic school that has been serving the local community since 1886. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted, it is recognised for its high academic standards, strong moral values and commitment to developing each child’s spiritual, social and personal potential.
The school promotes respect, honesty and responsibility within a caring community closely linked to the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden. The school achieved exceptional recent Key Stage 2 results, significantly outperforming national averages. 99% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, mathematics and grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS), while 96% achieved this standard across writing and science.
St Luke’s CofE Primary School, Kingston upon Thames
St Luke’s C of E Primary School is a high-achieving school offering a nurturing and supportive education for children from Nursery to Year 6. Led by Headteacher Mr Gareth Dutton, the school combines strong academic outcomes with a Christian ethos that promotes respect, kindness and care amongst pupils.
The school is small in size to ensure every child is known individually and supported to reach their full potential. Alongside high standards in English and mathematics, St Luke’s provides a creative and values-driven education that is enriched by trips, visitors and extra-curricular activities, while the school’s consistently strong SATs results place it among Kingston’s top-performing primary schools.
London’s best primary schools prove that great education is about far more than exam results. They each offer high standards with care, character and community, giving children the confidence and values they need to succeed within school and beyond.
