Westlands Community Primary School
92%
Capacity
580
Pupils
1.5x
Demand
About Westlands Community Primary School
Westlands Community Primary School in Chelmsford holds a Good rating from Ofsted, with its most recent ungraded inspection in November 2024 noting that the school had improved significantly since its previous graded inspection in 2019. The Early Years provision was rated Outstanding. The most telling academic metric is the Key Stage 2 combined score for reading, writing and maths: 76% of pupils met the expected standard in the 2023/24 year. That is well above the local authority average of 62% for similar schools, placing Westlands in the top 25% of primary schools nationally. Within the Chelmsford local authority, it ranks 9th out of 41 schools, and in the East of England region it sits in the 14th percentile.
Breaking down the exam results, reading is a particular strength: pupils achieved an average scaled score of 110, with 50% reaching the higher standard. In maths, the average scaled score was 106, with 36% reaching the higher standard, while 80% met the expected standard. Writing saw 83% meeting the expected standard and 27% achieving the higher standard. The school’s Ofsted breakdown backs this up, with Good ratings for quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 94% of respondents would recommend the school, and 96% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there. The school also scores highly on communication, with 99% of parents agreeing the school lets them know how their child is doing.
Westlands is a popular choice in Chelmsford, oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake with 131 applications for 86 places and 65 first-preference offers. It serves a diverse community, with 24.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals. The school offers a range of facilities including a sensory room, library, gymnasium, forest school and a chapel. Sports provision is broad, covering swimming, cricket, tennis, netball, athletics, rounders and cross country, while clubs include gardening, book club, drama, science club and eco club. For children with additional needs, the school supports a range of SEND categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs. This combination of strong academic outcomes, a wide extracurricular offer and good SEND support makes Westlands a solid choice for families seeking a primary education in the Chelmsford area.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 5 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Beeches Close, Chelmsford, Chelmsford, CM1 2SB |
| Headteacher | Melanie Gaskin |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 580 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.8% |
| School Capacity | 580 / 630 (92% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
27 Nov 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (27 Nov 2024): Improved significantly
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 12 Nov 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (76%)
2364th of 13,686
Nationally
232nd of 1,612
In East of England
9th of 41
In Chelmsford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
76%
Expected Standard
23%
Higher Standard
'22/23
62%
'23/24
76%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
93 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
5Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed86
131
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
65 families put this school as their 1st choice (50% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British49.5%
- Asian15.7%
- Mixed12.6%
- White (other)8.6%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
10
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
5
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Westlands Community Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Beeches Close, Chelmsford
Chelmsford, CM1 2SB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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