Chigwell Primary Academy

About Chigwell Primary Academy

Chigwell Primary Academy is a school that local families clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 68 applications for just 30 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.27. Of those 68 applications, 22 were first-preference choices, and 21 of those families received an offer. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation among parents in the Epping Forest area. The school is a state-funded primary for mixed genders, aged 4 to 11, and is led by headteacher Charlotte Furia. With 186 pupils on roll against a capacity of 270, there is some physical room to grow, though the oversubscription figures show that demand currently outstrips supply. The school does not have a religious character, and it does not offer nursery provision or a sixth form.

Academically, Chigwell Primary Academy performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 65% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the Essex local authority average of 62%. The school also ranks 6th out of 30 primary schools in the Epping Forest district, placing it in the top 20% locally. In reading, the average scaled score was 106, with 80% of pupils reaching the expected standard and 23% achieving a higher standard. Maths saw an average score of 107, with 83% at the expected level and 33% at the higher level. Writing had 80% at expected and 20% at higher. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in October 2023, confirmed it remains Good, with leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all rated Good. This is a significant improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2018, which rated the school Inadequate.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a library, music rooms, an ICT suite, a sports hall, and a chapel. Sports on offer include cross country, rounders, dance, gymnastics, netball, tennis and athletics, while clubs extend to drama, choir, gardening, chess, eco club and coding. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. The nearest outstanding-rated primary school is Hereward Primary School, 3.8 km away, which may be a useful comparison for families weighing their options. Chigwell Primary Academy suits families who want a well-regarded, oversubscribed local primary with strong academic outcomes and a broad extracurricular offer, particularly those who value music, sport and coding.

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