Larkrise Primary School

About Larkrise Primary School

Larkrise Primary School in Chelmsford is a school that local parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 63 applications for just 23 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.74. Of those, 17 families put it as their first preference, and all 17 were offered a place. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation among the families who know it best. The school is a state primary for mixed genders, ages 4 to 11, and is not affiliated with any religious character. Headteacher Katie Allen leads a school with 180 pupils, which is slightly below its capacity of 210, meaning there is some room for growth. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 42.8%, which is notably higher than the national average and gives a sense of the community the school serves.

Academically, Larkrise holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained consistently across its two most recent inspections. In the most recent graded inspection in June 2024, every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — was rated Good. At Key Stage 2, 64% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is just above the local authority average of 62%. However, only 8% reached the higher standard in all three subjects, which is below the national benchmark. Individual subject scores tell a more detailed story: maths had a strong average score of 106, with 76% reaching the expected level and 32% hitting the higher standard. Reading and writing both saw 72% of pupils meet expectations, though higher-attaining figures were lower at 16% and 20% respectively.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a library, ICT suite, music rooms, gymnasium, playing fields, and a forest school. Sports provision covers athletics, netball, football and cricket, while clubs extend to drama, choir, film, eco, chess and gardening. For families with children who have additional needs, Larkrise lists support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language challenges, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is not a nursery provider and has no sixth form. Oversubscription means it is worth applying early and naming as a first preference if you live nearby. For families considering alternatives, the nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Beehive Lane Community Primary School, just 0.8 km away.

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