Merlin School, London
Merlin School is an independent school for pupils aged 3 to 8 in London. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2024.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Merlin School in detail
Merlin School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am delighted to welcome you to Merlin School. Choosing a school for your child at the age of three or four is a significant decision and an exciting opportunity to inspire a young learner and prepare them for the next stage of their education."
The school runs after-school care.
Coming up: an open day on Thursday 12 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Wandsworth
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Merlin School are Putney High School GDST (under 0.1 miles), Prospect House School (0.5 miles), Hurlingham School (0.5 miles) and The Roche School (0.8 miles).
Putney High School GDSTProspect House SchoolHurlingham SchoolThe Roche School
Who goes there
In 2026, 7 pupils (7.8%) received SEN support and 1 (1.1%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is East Putney Underground Station, about 400 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lytton Grove, 150 metres away.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Merlin School excels at helping every child feel valued and supported through small class sizes and personalised attention. Teachers have strong subject knowledge and are particularly skilled at teaching reading, helping all children become confident and fluent readers. The school goes far beyond academics, developing character through daily sessions and regular performances, while offering a rich range of clubs, sports, music and community activities.
Key Strengths
- Excellent teaching of early reading with well-trained staff and effective catch-up support for pupils who fall behind
- Ambitious, carefully planned curriculum that builds knowledge progressively, with strong subject-specific vocabulary development
- Exemplary pupil behaviour and attitudes to learning, with highly personalised support creating positive working relationships
- Wide range of enrichment activities, outings and cultural experiences including museums, places of worship and performances
- Very high attendance rates for all pupils with robust strategies to support regular school attendance
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports clubs, music groups, chess club, school performances, charity fundraising, local hospital visits and choir performances, museum visits, places of worship visits
Merlin School is an outstanding independent school for ages 4-8 in Putney that has created a warm, welcoming culture centred on kindness. Leaders have extremely high expectations and provide highly personalised support through small class sizes, enabling all pupils including those with SEND to thrive.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Merlin School
Standard Terms Conditions
2 Oct 2026
Vacancies
2 Oct 2026
Recent Communication
2 Oct 2026
Admissions Policy
30 Sep 2026
Admissions Information
30 Sep 2026
Joining the Pre-School
30 Sep 2026
From Merlin School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Merlin School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 189
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 25
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 189 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 25 serious and 163 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
30 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Wandsworth is 99 (the median across 113 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
41%
Available places
90 pupils
220 places
130 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Wandsworth council
Places available
2,095
Applications
2,164
Got 1st preference
60.4%
Got preferred school
90.2%
All secondary applications across Wandsworth council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
Independent School standard inspection
Met all the independent school standards.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
7
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
8.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
90
Total Pupils
77
Boys
13
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about Merlin School
What is Merlin School's Ofsted rating?
Merlin School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024.
Does Merlin School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in June 2024, Merlin School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Merlin School?
Merlin School has around 90 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Merlin School?
Merlin School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Merlin School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 189 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 25 serious and 163 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 30 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Wandsworth is 99 (the median across 113 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Merlin School?
Merlin School is at 4 Carlton Drive, Putney, London, SW15 2BZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)