Fairways Primary School

About Fairways Primary School

Fairways Primary School sits in the middle of the pack in Southend-on-Sea, but its headline KS2 figure tells a slightly different story. The proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined is 57%, which is four percentage points below the local authority average of 61%. That places the school 16th out of 25 primaries in the borough, or in the 64th percentile nationally — a solidly average position, not a weak one. Where Fairways really stands out is in reading: 80% of pupils hit the expected standard and the average scaled score is 107, both comfortably above the national norm. Maths is a bit more mixed, with 73% at expected and an average score of 105, but the real gap is at the higher end — only 7% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, compared with 25% hitting that mark in maths alone. So the school gets most children to a decent level, but fewer than average push into the top tier.

The school’s most recent graded inspection was back in 2012, when it was rated Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in July 2023 confirmed the school remains Good, so the rating has held steady for over a decade. The previous inspection in 2008 also gave a Good rating, so there’s consistency here. Looking at the breakdown, the 2012 inspection gave a score of 2 (Good) for overall effectiveness, leadership and management, and early years provision — though the early years score was a 3 (Satisfactory) in 2008, so that area has improved. The school doesn’t publish Progress 8 scores for KS2, but the raw attainment data suggests reading progress is likely stronger than maths or writing. With 57% reaching the expected standard in all three subjects, Fairways is performing broadly in line with the LA average, though it’s worth noting that three schools in the borough are rated Outstanding, including Blenheim Primary just 1.3 km away.

Fairways is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 4 to 11, with no nursery or sixth form. It’s oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 92 applications for 46 places, a ratio of 2:1, and all 43 first-preference applicants received offers. The school has capacity for 420 pupils and currently has 412 on roll, so it’s running very close to full. Facilities include music rooms, art studios, an ICT suite, a forest school area and a chapel — unusual for a non-religious school. Sports provision covers tennis, athletics, swimming, gymnastics and dance, and there are clubs for gardening, art and choir. SEND support is broad, with resourced provision for autistic spectrum disorder, plus specialist help for moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health. This is a school that suits families who value a strong reading focus, a wide range of extracurriculars, and a consistent Good rating, but who are comfortable with results that sit around the local average rather than at the top.

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