Mountnessing Church of England Primary School

About Mountnessing Church of England Primary School

Mountnessing Church of England Primary School is a state primary in Brentwood, Essex, that is noticeably oversubscribed. With 182 pupils on roll against a capacity of 165, the school is operating above its official limit, and the demand is clear: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 130 applications for just 29 places, with 35 of those being first-preference applications. That works out at roughly 4.5 applications per place. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 8.2%, which is below the national average for primary schools and suggests a relatively affluent local intake. The school is Church of England in character, mixed gender, and takes children from ages 5 to 11. The headteacher is Holly Obank. Given the oversubscription ratio, families considering this school will need to ensure they meet the admissions criteria and apply early.

Academically, Mountnessing performs reasonably well at Key Stage 2, though results are mixed when compared with the local authority average. In the 2023/24 academic year, 57% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the Essex local authority average of 62%. However, reading results are a standout: 100% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, and 36% achieved a higher standard. The average reading score was 109, comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. Maths results are more modest, with 71% reaching the expected standard and an average score of 104. In writing, 71% met the expected standard, but no pupils achieved the higher standard. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2022, rated it Good overall, with Good marks for early years provision, leadership and management, and the school remains Good following an ungraded visit. This is a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2008, which rated it Requires Improvement.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a sensory room, gymnasium, art studios, playing fields and a chapel. Sports on offer include gymnastics, football, netball and dance, while clubs cover drama, eco club, choir, gardening and science club. SEND provisions are in place for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and other difficulties. There is no nursery provision or sixth form. The school ranks 15th out of 18 primary schools in the Brentwood local authority area based on its Key Stage 2 combined expected standard score, placing it in the bottom half locally. Nationally, it sits in the 63rd percentile. For families who prioritise strong reading outcomes and a church school ethos within a popular, oversubscribed setting, Mountnessing is a competitive choice, but those seeking top-tier maths or writing results may want to look at higher-ranked peers in the area.

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