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Parkwood Academy

Chelmsford, CM1 2DXPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Jul 2024
KS2 Results
37%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
14 1st-choice / 14 places
Ranking
#12,806
of 13,686 nationally

About Parkwood Academy

Parkwood Academy is a state primary school in Chelmsford, within the Essex local authority, and it serves a mixed cohort of 210 pupils aged 3 to 11. In the local landscape of 444 same-type schools across Essex, it ranks 347th, placing it in the bottom half of the authority. The top-performing peers in the area include St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School in Colchester, Stambridge Primary School, and Great Totham Primary School, all of which achieved the highest possible ranking scores. Parkwood Academy is also the lowest-ranked school in Chelmsford itself, coming 41st out of 41 primary schools in the borough. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Perryfields Junior School, located 2.2 kilometres away. The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, with 41 applications for 14 places and all 14 first-preference offers accepted, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.93.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressMelbourne Avenue, Chelmsford, Chelmsford, CM1 2DX
HeadteacherLisa Cracknell
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils210
Free School Meals (FSM)38.1%
School Capacity210 / 210 (100% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

9 Jul 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Early Years Provision
Requires improvement

Source: Ofsted, 17 Sept 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

5
ICT SuiteSensory RoomOutdoor PlaygroundPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

CricketDanceRoundersFootballSwimmingCross CountryTennis

Clubs & Activities

DramaChoirScience ClubBook ClubGardeningChess

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Parkwood Academy

Parkwood Academy has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.