St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Coggeshall

About St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Coggeshall

St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in Coggeshall is a state primary for children aged 2 to 11, and it is currently oversubscribed. For the 2025/26 intake, the school offered 34 places to first-preference applicants, but received 52 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.53. That means for every place available, more than one and a half families wanted it. The school is running at or slightly above its stated capacity of 333 pupils, with 338 children on roll. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 13.9%, which is below the national average for primary schools in England, typically around 23-24%. This suggests a relatively affluent local intake, though the school does serve a mixed community. As a Church of England school, it has a religious character, and the headteacher is Sam Wilding. The school also offers nursery provision for two-year-olds, which broadens its appeal to local families with younger children.

Academically, St Peter's performs around the middle of the pack. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 59% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is slightly below the local authority average of 62% for similar schools in Essex. The school ranks 237th out of 444 primary schools in the county, placing it in the bottom half. In the Braintree local area, it sits 27th out of 46 schools. Looking at individual subjects, reading is the strongest area, with 82% of pupils reaching the expected standard and 29% achieving a higher score. Maths follows at 69% expected and 27% higher, while writing lags a little at 76% expected and just 14% higher. The average scaled scores are 106 in reading and 104 in maths. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. The previous graded inspection in 2012 also gave a Good rating, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a library, playing fields, art studios, a forest school, a gymnasium, sports hall, chapel and an outdoor playground. Sports provision includes gymnastics, tennis, rounders, cross country, athletics and dance, while clubs cover drama, gardening, film club and choir. For families with children who have additional needs, the school supports a wide range of SEND categories, including moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a practical choice for parents seeking an inclusive mainstream setting. Given its oversubscription, families living within the catchment area or with a strong church connection are likely to have an advantage at admission. It suits families who want a well-resourced village primary with a Christian ethos, decent but not exceptional results, and a broad extracurricular offer.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Coggeshall

Helpful Guides for Parents