Great Dunmow Primary School
100%
Capacity
421
Pupils
2.9x
Demand
About Great Dunmow Primary School
Great Dunmow Primary School is a state primary for mixed pupils aged 4 to 11, located in the Uttlesford district of Essex. It is currently full to the brim, with 421 pupils on roll against a capacity of 420. The school serves a relatively affluent catchment: just 8.6% of its pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the national average. Demand is strong, and the school is oversubscribed. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 173 applications for 60 places, with 86 families listing it as their first preference. All 60 first-preference offers were taken up, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.88 applicants per place. The headteacher is Kevin Watts, and the school has no religious character. It does not offer nursery provision or a sixth form.
Academically, Great Dunmow performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 80% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an Essex average of 62%. The school ranks 4th out of 34 primary schools in Uttlesford and sits in the top 25% nationally. Pupils achieved an average maths score of 109 and an average reading score of 107. At the higher standard, 16% hit the top marks across all three subjects, with 51% reaching that level in maths alone. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2024, the school was judged Good overall, with Outstanding marks for personal development and for behaviour and attitudes. The early years provision and leadership and management were both rated Good. The previous inspection in 2014 also rated the school Good.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, gymnasium, ICT suite, music rooms, playing fields and a Forest School. Sports on offer include rounders, swimming, cricket and athletics, while clubs include coding, film club and choir. SEND provision covers a wide spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, physical disability and social, emotional and mental health needs. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 100% of respondents to the Parent View survey would recommend the school, and 89% strongly agreed that their child is happy there. This is a popular, high-performing school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes, good behaviour and a wide range of enrichment opportunities, but its oversubscribed status means early application is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Walnut Walk, Great Dunmow, Uttlesford, CM6 1ZR |
| Headteacher | Kevin Watts |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 421 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 8.6% |
| School Capacity | 421 / 420 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Nov 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 12 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (80%)
1485th of 13,686
Nationally
134th of 1,612
In East of England
4th of 34
In Uttlesford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
80%
Expected Standard
16%
Higher Standard
'22/23
78%
'23/24
80%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
133 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
7Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed60
173
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
86 families put this school as their 1st choice (50% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:20
Source: greatdunmowprimary.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% 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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British91.9%
- Mixed3.6%
- White (other)3.1%
- Asian0.9%
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
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
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.
3
Total schools
3
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Great Dunmow Primary 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
Walnut Walk, Great Dunmow
Uttlesford, CM6 1ZR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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