Cherry Tree Primary School

About Cherry Tree Primary School

Cherry Tree Primary School in Basildon was judged to Require Improvement overall in its most recent Ofsted inspection, a downgrade from its previous Good rating. The inspection, which took place in 2025, found that while the quality of education and leadership and management both require improvement, the school continues to do well in other areas. Early years provision, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes were all rated Good. This mixed picture is reflected in the school's most informative exam metric: just 47% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year. That is significantly below the Essex local authority average of 62%, and places Cherry Tree in the bottom half of primary schools nationally, ranking 34th out of 39 schools in Basildon.

Digging deeper into the 2023/24 KS2 results, the picture is uneven across subjects. Reading was the strongest area, with 64% of pupils reaching the expected standard and 20% achieving a higher score. In writing, 68% met the expected standard, but only 3% reached the higher level. Maths was weaker, with 51% at the expected standard and 5% at the higher level. No pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects. The school's average maths score was 101 and reading 104, both close to the national baseline of 100. Parent feedback, gathered between September 2024 and September 2025, shows a divided community: 51% would recommend the school, but 49% would not. While 62% of parents say their child is happy, only 48% feel concerns are dealt with properly, and 51% of those with SEND children disagree that the school provides adequate support.

Cherry Tree is a larger-than-average primary, with 423 pupils against a capacity of 420, and it is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 74 applications for 34 places, with 29 first-preference offers. The school serves a community with high disadvantage, as 41% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Facilities include a library, music rooms, playing fields and a chapel, and the school offers a range of sports including swimming, athletics and cricket, plus clubs such as eco club, drama and film club. SEND provision is broad, covering autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities among others. For families considering alternatives, the nearest Outstanding-rated primary is St Anne Line Catholic Junior School, 2.1 km away. Cherry Tree may suit families who value its strong early years and behaviour ratings, but those prioritising academic outcomes at KS2 may want to explore higher-performing options in the area.

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