Doddinghurst Infant School
88%
Capacity
158
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Doddinghurst Infant School
Doddinghurst Infant School is a popular choice among local families, with 85 applications for 48 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.77. Of those applications, 43 were first-preference offers, meaning the school filled nearly all its places from families who ranked it top. The school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, but the high demand suggests strong satisfaction. It is a state primary for children aged 4 to 7, mixed gender and non-religious, with Emma Fagg as headteacher. With 158 pupils against a capacity of 180, the school is not at full roll, yet it remains oversubscribed — a sign that its reputation in Brentwood, Essex, draws more interest than its current intake can accommodate.
Academically, Doddinghurst Infant School was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2022, with all five graded categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — each scoring 2 (Good). This is a step down from its previous inspection in 2009, when it was rated Outstanding overall, with early years, leadership, and management all scoring 1. The school serves a relatively advantaged cohort, with only 10.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals. As an infant school, it does not have Key Stage 2 SATs results, so it cannot be compared directly to the Essex local authority average of 62% meeting the expected standard. However, its Good rating places it among the majority of primary schools in Essex, where 33 out of 444 are rated Outstanding.
The school offers a range of facilities including a library, dining hall, gymnasium, ICT suite, and a Forest School, which supports outdoor learning. Sports provision includes football, cross country, tennis, and dance, while clubs extend to eco, chess, gardening, science, and choir. For children with additional needs, the school has dedicated SEND provisions for speech, language and communication, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is no nursery or sixth form. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Shenfield St. Mary's Church of England Primary School, 4.2 km away. Doddinghurst Infant School suits families seeking a well-regarded, community-focused infant school with strong demand, a broad range of clubs, and a clear commitment to early years development in a semi-rural Essex setting.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 7 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Church Lane, Brentwood, Brentwood, CM15 0NJ |
| Headteacher | Emma Fagg |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 158 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 10.1% |
| School Capacity | 158 / 180 (88% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 19 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed48
85
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
43 families put this school as their 1st choice (51% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.0%
- Mixed7.0%
- White (other)1.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
2
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Doddinghurst Infant School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Church Lane, Brentwood
Brentwood, CM15 0NJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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