Great Bardfield Primary School

About Great Bardfield Primary School

Great Bardfield Primary School is a state primary in the Essex village of Great Bardfield, within the Braintree borough. It sits among a competitive field of local primaries: the top-ranked peers in the local authority include Stambridge Primary School, St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School in Colchester, and Great Totham Primary School. The school itself holds a strong position, ranking 7th out of 46 primary schools in Braintree, placing it in the top 25% of schools locally. Nationally, it ranks 1,669th out of 13,686 primary schools, which puts it comfortably in the top 12% across England. With 124 pupils on roll against a capacity of 180, the school is not at full capacity, yet it was oversubscribed for 2025/26 admissions, receiving 34 applications for 20 places, all 20 of which went to first-preference families. The school is led by headteacher Liz Crow and has no religious character.

Academically, Great Bardfield performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 79% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of just 62%. The school’s overall score of 79 on this metric places it in the top 25% of schools in the East of England region. Reading is a particular strength: the average scaled score was 108, and 43% of pupils achieved the higher standard. In maths, the average scaled score was 105, with 21% reaching the higher standard. Writing saw 86% of pupils meet the expected standard and 21% reach the higher standard. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in February 2022, confirmed that the school remains Good, matching its previous graded inspection in 2013. Leadership and management were also rated Good.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including an ICT suite, sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, art studios, a sensory room, and a Forest School. Pupils can take part in sports such as football, netball, dance, rounders, athletics, gymnastics and swimming, and there are clubs for drama, coding, film, art, science and gardening. The school supports children with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, hearing impairment, and other difficulties or disabilities. With a relatively small roll and a 1.7 oversubscription ratio, it is a popular choice for local families who value strong academic outcomes in a village setting. The 18.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals is slightly above the national average, reflecting a mixed intake. This is a school that suits families looking for a well-regarded, community-focused primary with solid results and a good range of enrichment.

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