Staples Road Primary School

About Staples Road Primary School

Staples Road Primary School’s headline Key Stage 2 results sit slightly above the Essex local authority average, but the gap is modest. In the 2023/24 academic year, 64% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a county average of 62%. That two-percentage-point edge places the school 189th out of 444 primary schools in Essex — comfortably in the top half, but not among the elite. Within its own borough of Epping Forest, the school ranks 9th out of 30 primaries, putting it in the top third locally. The school’s overall ranking score of 64 lands it in the top 50 tier nationally, though its national percentile of 47.4 suggests it sits just below the midpoint when measured against all primaries in England. For parents weighing up options in the Epping Forest area, Staples Road offers results that are reliably above the norm without being exceptional — a solid, middle-ground performer.

Digging into the individual subject scores reveals where the school’s strengths lie. Reading is a clear standout: 81% of pupils reached the expected standard, and 39% achieved a higher standard — well above typical primary benchmarks. The average reading scaled score of 107 is strong. Maths is more mixed: 75% hit the expected level, with 11% reaching the higher standard, and an average score of 103. Writing lags slightly behind, with 77% at expected and only 13% at the higher level. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in November 2022, confirmed it “remains Good” — the same rating it received in its last graded inspection in 2013. Leadership and management, as well as overall effectiveness, were both judged Good. There is no breakdown for behaviour, personal development or early years provision in the data, but the consistency of the Good rating across two inspections a decade apart suggests stable leadership under headteacher Nicholas Mallender.

The school is large, with 615 pupils on roll against a capacity of 630, and it is clearly popular: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 219 applications for 90 places, and 80 of the 90 first-preference applicants were offered a spot — an oversubscription ratio of 2.43. Facilities are broad for a state primary, including a sports hall, library, art studios, a sensory room, a forest school area and playing fields. The school also lists a chapel, which is unusual for a non-religious school. SEND provision covers seven categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Clubs such as drama, eco club and chess, plus sports like gymnastics and football, round out the offer. This is a school that suits families who want a well-resourced, oversubscribed community primary with above-average but not exceptional results, and who are comfortable with a large, busy environment in the Epping Forest area.

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