Classpot

Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Colchester, CO7 6BZPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jun 2024
KS2 Results
64%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
37 1st-choice / 30 places
Ranking
#6,352
of 13,686 nationally

About Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School sits slightly above the Essex local authority average for its key stage 2 combined reading, writing and maths expected standard, with 64% of pupils reaching that benchmark compared to the LA average of 62%. That two-point gap is modest but consistent, and it places the school 194th out of 444 primary schools in the county — right in the middle of the pack. More striking is the school’s personal development rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024, which remains Outstanding, even as the overall effectiveness dropped from its previous Outstanding to Good. Behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and the quality of education all came in at Good, while early years provision was also rated Good. The school has held a Good or better rating across both its inspections, though the 2024 judgement represents a step down from the Outstanding overall effectiveness it received back in 2012.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressParson's Field, Colchester, Colchester, CO7 6BZ
HeadteacherGemma Chester
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils194
Free School Meals (FSM)9.8%
School Capacity194 / 210 (92% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

4 Jun 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 24 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
LibraryPlaying FieldsSensory RoomSports HallMusic RoomsForest SchoolChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

8

Sports

FootballSwimmingDanceNetballCricket

Clubs & Activities

GardeningChessEco Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.