St Mary's CofE Foundation Primary School

About St Mary's CofE Foundation Primary School

Parents considering St Mary's CofE Foundation Primary School will find strong signals of local confidence. The school is oversubscribed, with 59 applications for 25 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.36. All 25 first-preference applicants received offers, suggesting that families who put it top of their list are likely to secure a place. The school currently has 262 pupils against a capacity of 315, so there is some room for growth. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 20.2%, which is a useful benchmark for the socioeconomic mix of the intake. While the school does not publish a parent-view survey score, the high demand for places is itself a practical indicator of local satisfaction.

Academically, St Mary's performs solidly above the local authority average. At Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 results, 73% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Essex LA average of 62%. The school ranks 13th out of 34 primary schools in Uttlesford on this measure, placing it in the top 25% nationally. In individual subjects, reading and maths scores are strong: 90% of pupils met the expected standard in reading and 93% in maths, with average scaled scores of 110 and 108 respectively. Higher-standard attainment is more modest, with 5% reaching the higher standard in writing and 40% in maths. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2022 rated it Good across all categories, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018, with leadership and management, behaviour and attitudes, and personal development all judged Good.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including a library, sports hall, ICT suite, gymnasium, music rooms, sensory room, forest school and chapel. Sports provision covers cross country, football, swimming, netball, gymnastics, cricket and rounders, while clubs include book club, drama, coding and gardening. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. As a Church of England primary, the school has a religious character but is open to all. With its oversubscribed status and above-average KS2 outcomes, St Mary's is likely to suit families who prioritise a well-regarded local primary with a clear academic track record and a broad extracurricular offer, particularly those living within the Uttlesford catchment area.

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