Poplar Primary School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 3 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Poplar Road South, Merton Park, London, SW19 3JZOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Poplar Primary School is a primary school in Merton for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 72 schools in Merton. It ranks 21st of 42 primary schools in Merton. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in July 2015.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 14 July 2015, report published 8 September 2015

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 November 2024

The school is driven by its mission statement for pupils to be 'ready, respectful and safe'. Pupils take part in a wide range of enrichment activities to gain valuable life experiences. They take part in trips, clubs and workshops and hold various leadership responsibilities. This is in addition to listening to visitors and authors and taking part in competitions and charity drives. These activities contribute to pupils feeling happy and confident at this school. Pupils are safe and attend school very well. Conduct around the school is calm and orderly. Pupils are polite and courteous. They are motivated to learn in class. Children in the early years develop good social skills and learn to play together cooperatively. The school provides a broad and enriched education. This begins in the early years, where secure foundations are built. Pupils make strong progress through the curriculum and often achieve very well. This is because the school has high academic ambitions for pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), where needs are identified accurately and with precision. Pupils want to learn and enjoy their learning. The school works well with families. It has built a strong community ethos. Parents and carers speak of the nurturing environment and warm pastoral care provided to their children.

What the school should improve

  • The school does not consistently check pupils' understanding across subjects. Some pupils may not fully understand new concepts that prepare them for the more complex ideas that come later in the curriculum. The school should ensure that teachers routinely check that pupils' understanding is secure before moving them on to learning more challenging content.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

83 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths70%

70%, 8 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths14%

14%, 6 percentage points above the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score107

107, 1 above the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score109

109, 4 above the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score107

107, 2 above the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

598 pupils on roll, with places for 708

Eligible for free school meals19.1%

19.1%, 7.4 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language46%

46%, 24.4 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support11.9%

11.9%, 2.9 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan3.3%

3.3%, 2.7 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Poplar Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Merton Park Primary School0.4 milesOfsted judgements: Outstanding93% met the expected standard
Park Academy0.5 milesOfsted: Outstanding94% met the expected standard
Abbotsbury Primary School0.6 milesOfsted: Good58% met the expected standard
Hillcross Primary School0.6 milesOfsted judgements: Good to outstanding68% met the expected standard
Joseph Hood Primary School0.7 milesOfsted: Good63% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
3 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Mrs Elaine Spick
Address
Poplar Road South, Merton Park, London, SW19 3JZ
Local authority
Merton
URN
102644

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.