Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit, London
Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in London. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2022. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 953rd-highest of the 959 schools in London with published results, and 13,829th of 14,452 across England. It was 54% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2022)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Wandsworth (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit in detail
Results
In 2025, 50% of Year 6 pupils at Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit reached the expected standard in reading and 53% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 83% and 81% in Wandsworth and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (58% in reading, 42% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit
For September 2026 entry, 20 families put Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit as their first choice and 50 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit are Gatton (VA) Primary School (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 84% reading, 91% maths); Garfield Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 91% reading, 74% maths); St Boniface RC Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 76% reading, 78% maths); and Sellincourt Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 87% reading, 80% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit.
Gatton (VA) Primary SchoolGarfield Primary SchoolSt Boniface RC Primary SchoolSellincourt Primary School
Who goes there
42.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 34% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (29%), Asian (21%) and Black (20%).
In 2026, 37 pupils (14.6%) received SEN support and 59 (23.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs: 60 places, 59 pupils on roll.
Staffing
Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit had 16 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Tooting Broadway Underground Station, about 860 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wimbledon Road, 170 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit issued 2 suspensions, 0.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit are Burntwood School (0.5 miles), Ernest Bevin Academy (0.7 miles), Ricards Lodge High School (1.1 miles) and RR6 (1.2 miles).
Burntwood SchoolErnest Bevin AcademyRicards Lodge High SchoolRR6
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2022 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school creates a welcoming, inclusive environment where pupils enjoy learning and feel safe. Teachers show genuine care for their pupils and have high expectations for everyone, including those with additional needs. The school goes beyond academics, giving all children opportunities to develop confidence through sports, trips and school responsibilities.
Key Strengths
- Strong teaching in reading, phonics and mathematics with consistent, well-sequenced lessons
- Inclusive environment with expert support for pupils with SEND in both the language unit and mainstream classrooms
- Commitment to pupil well-being, behaviour and safety with calm classrooms and effective handling of bullying
- High aspirations for all pupils with kind, encouraging teachers
- All pupils participate in at least one sporting event during their time at school
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum in some subjects (history and geography) lacks clear knowledge and sequencing, meaning pupils struggle to recall key facts
- Art curriculum needs clarified key knowledge and skills for each unit of work
- Need to complete curriculum review across all subjects to ensure pupils confidently know and remember more
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with regular staff training, clear reporting systems, online safety teaching and strong engagement with external agencies.
Extracurricular Activities
School sports competitions, school allotment with vegetable growing, trips to London Eye, Big Ben and Wimbledon History Museum, school committees
Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit is a good school that has improved significantly since its last inspection. The school is inclusive and provides strong teaching in reading, writing and mathematics, with effective support for pupils with special educational needs.
At a Glance
42.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Speech and language
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 58% to 50% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 42% to 53% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 58% to 47% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
20.8
Avg class size
28.0
Infant (KS1)
20.8
KS2
10
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit.
- Activ Camps at Burntwood School790m away · Not yet graded
- Thinkbox Education870m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit is a community school, so its term dates are set by Wandsworth. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Thursday 22 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit is in Wandsworth; for families living there:
Apply to Wandsworth for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 104
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 15
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 104 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 15 serious and 89 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
18 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
Your chances of a place at Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit
Will you get a place at Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit.
- Wandsworth publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Wandsworth got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
54%
Available places
225 pupils
420 places
195 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Wandsworth council
Places available
2,624
Applications
2,403
Got 1st preference
78.5%
Got preferred school
95.1%
All primary applications across Wandsworth council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(11)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
37
SEN Support
59
EHC Plans
37.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs: 60 places, 59 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
253
Total Pupils
143
Boys
110
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
15.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£61,045
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,941
Per pupil
£1932k
Total funding
£118k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.3%
Overall absence
19.7%
Persistent absence
203
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit
Questions parents ask about Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit
What are SATs results like at Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit?
Of the pupils at Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 50% reached the expected standard in reading and 53% did so in maths.
What is Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit's Ofsted rating?
Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2022. At its previous graded inspection in 2018 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit?
No fixed boundary. When Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit is oversubscribed, Wandsworth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit?
Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit was not full in 2025: it ran at 54% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit?
Classes at Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit average 20.8 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit?
Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit has around 253 pupils on roll. 43% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit have specialist SEN provision?
Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs: 60 places, 59 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit?
6.3% of sessions were missed at Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit in 2024/25. 19.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit?
Apply through Wandsworth's coordinated admissions process, naming Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit: Activ Camps at Burntwood School (790m away, registered, not yet graded) and Thinkbox Education (870m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit's term dates?
Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit is a community school, so its term dates are set by Wandsworth. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Thursday 22 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 104 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 15 serious and 89 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 18 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 Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit?
Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit is at Smallwood Road, Tooting, London, SW17 0TW.
Sources: Wandsworth term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)