Bentfield Primary School and Nursery

About Bentfield Primary School and Nursery

Bentfield Primary School and Nursery is a state-funded mixed primary in Uttlesford, Essex, with a published capacity of 236 pupils but currently home to 200, leaving a modest cushion of 36 places. Its intake reflects a relatively low level of economic disadvantage: just 8.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the national average and a sign the school draws from a broadly affluent catchment. Demand, however, is notably high. For the 2025/26 reception intake, the school offered 15 places and received 38 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.53. Of those 38 applicants, 13 put Bentfield as their first preference, and all 13 were offered a place. That first-preference fill rate suggests the school is a popular local choice, but not so oversubscribed that families outside the immediate catchment have no chance. The school also includes a nursery provision, which may help families secure a feeder route into the main school.

Academically, Bentfield performs around the middle of the pack. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 58% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, just below the Essex local authority average of 62%. That places the school 242nd out of 444 similar schools in the county, and 27th out of 34 primary schools in Uttlesford specifically. Results are uneven by subject: reading is a relative strength, with 79% hitting the expected standard and 29% reaching the higher standard, while maths lags at 63% expected and 21% higher. Writing sits in between at 67% expected. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is hard to say how much value the school adds from starting points. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in February 2024, the school retained its Good rating, with leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all judged Good.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for a primary of its size, including a sports hall, art studios, music rooms, an ICT suite, and a forest school area, which will appeal to families who value outdoor learning. Sports provision covers netball, athletics, swimming, gymnastics and cross country, while clubs include chess, coding, science club, choir and eco club. SEND support is broad, with provisions for dyslexia, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties, plus a resourced provision. The school has a chapel on site, though it has no religious character. For families in Uttlesford seeking a well-subscribed but not impossibly competitive primary with strong reading outcomes and a wide extracurricular offer, Bentfield is a pragmatic choice, particularly for those who can secure a nursery place first.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Bentfield Primary School and Nursery

Helpful Guides for Parents