Little Waltham Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

About Little Waltham Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Little Waltham Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School sits within the Essex local authority, where it ranks 5th out of 41 primary schools in the Chelmsford area, placing it comfortably in the top 25% of its local peers. Across the wider county, the school holds 47th position among 444 same-type schools. Its closest high-performing neighbours include St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School in Colchester and Stambridge Primary School, both of which share the top ranking score of 100, alongside Great Totham Primary School at 95. For families considering alternatives, the nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Perryfields Junior School, 4.7 kilometres away. Little Waltham itself has been consistently rated Good across its most recent inspections, with its latest graded inspection in July 2023 confirming Good in every category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This marks a continuation of the Good rating it held in its previous inspection in 2014.

In terms of academic outcomes, Little Waltham performs notably above the local average. At Key Stage 2, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Essex local authority average of 62%. The school’s ranking score of 80, based on this combined measure, places it in the top 25% nationally and within the top 10% of primary schools in the East of England region. Individual subject scores are strong: 93% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, with an average scaled score of 110, and 59% achieved the higher standard. In maths, 95% met expectations, with an average score of 108 and 41% reaching the higher threshold. Writing saw 83% at expected and 32% at the higher level. Progress measures for reading, writing and maths are not available in the data, but the attainment figures alone suggest a school where most children leave Year 6 with solid foundations. The school does not have a sixth form, as it is a primary-only setting.

The school has a capacity of 210 pupils and currently enrols 213, indicating it is full. It is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 102 applications for 30 places and 26 first-preference offers made from 28 first-preference applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.4. Facilities include a library, ICT suite, gymnasium, forest school and chapel, and the school offers a range of sports including gymnastics, rounders, dance, football, tennis, cross country and cricket. Clubs cover science, art, film, gardening and eco activities. The school has a Church of England religious character and is led by headteacher Stephen Saunders. Its SEND provisions support children with specific learning difficulties (including dyslexia), moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 15% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a broadly representative local community. This is a good-fit choice for Chelmsford families seeking a well-regarded village primary with strong academic outcomes and a clear Christian ethos, though early planning is essential given the high demand for places.

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