Great Leighs Primary School

About Great Leighs Primary School

Great Leighs Primary School has been rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection, a notable improvement from its previous rating of Requires Improvement in 2013. The school’s leadership and management have also been assessed as Good, reflecting a clear upward trajectory in quality. When it comes to academic outcomes at Key Stage 2, the most telling metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined: 57% of pupils achieved this benchmark in the 2023/24 academic year. That figure sits just below the Essex local authority average of 62%, placing the school 31st out of 41 primary schools in the Chelmsford area and in the bottom half nationally. However, the picture is more nuanced when you look at individual subjects. In writing, 80% of pupils met the expected standard, and in maths, 73% did — both strong results. Reading was the weakest area, with 63% reaching the expected level.

Looking beyond the headline combined figure, the school’s performance in higher attainment is modest. Only 10% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three core subjects, and in reading specifically, just 13% reached that level. Maths and writing both fared better here, with 23% of pupils achieving higher attainment in each. The average scaled scores tell a similar story: 105 in maths and 104 in reading, both close to the national average of 100. The school does not publish progress scores for any subject, so it is not possible to see how much value it adds relative to pupils’ starting points. In the broader Essex context, Great Leighs ranks 252nd out of 444 primary schools of the same type, placing it in the middle of the pack. With 33 schools in the local authority rated Outstanding, competition for top-tier outcomes is strong, but Great Leighs holds its own in core subjects like writing and maths.

The school is oversubscribed for Reception entry in 2025/26, with 60 applications for 30 places and 36 first-preference applications — a ratio of two applicants per place. This suggests it is a popular choice among local families. Facilities are a real strength: the site includes a library, ICT suite, sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, a forest school area, a sensory room and even a chapel. The sports offering is broad, with athletics, netball, gymnastics, cross country, dance, football and cricket all available, alongside clubs such as science, chess and book club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school’s SEND provision covers a wide range, including support for dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language challenges, visual impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. With 11.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a broadly representative intake. Great Leighs Primary is a solid, improving option for Chelmsford families who value a broad curriculum, strong facilities and a Good-rated school that has demonstrably turned around from a weaker past.

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