Woodside Academy
100%
Capacity
660
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Woodside Academy
Woodside Academy, a state primary in Thurrock, outperforms the local authority average on the key measure of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The school achieved 77% in this combined metric for the 2023/24 academic year, a full ten percentage points above the Thurrock LA average of 67%. This places Woodside in the top quarter of all primary schools in the authority, ranked 10th out of 39. The school is also oversubscribed, receiving 140 applications for 82 places in the 2025/26 intake, with 79 of those offers going to first-preference families. This level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, and the school is operating at its full capacity of 660 pupils.
Digging into the KS2 results, the school’s strongest individual subject performance is in maths, where 89% of pupils met the expected standard and 34% achieved the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 107. Reading also performed well, with 84% reaching the expected level and an average score of 106. Writing saw 81% at the expected standard and 16% at the higher level. The combined figure of 77% achieving the expected standard in all three subjects is a solid, above-average result for the area. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2014, the school was rated Good overall, with Good for leadership and management and Good for early years provision. An ungraded inspection in June 2024 confirmed the school remains Good, and the report is available online.
Woodside Academy offers a broad range of facilities including a gymnasium, sports hall, music rooms, an ICT suite, and a chapel. Sports provision covers football, tennis, athletics, cricket and rounders, while clubs include film, book, art, science and eco clubs. The school has a nursery provision for children from age three. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. Given its above-average results and oversubscribed status, this school is likely to suit families who prioritise strong core academic outcomes within a well-resourced, full-capacity primary setting.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Grangewood Avenue, Grays, Thurrock, RM16 2GJ |
| Headteacher | J Ryder |
| Local Authority | Thurrock |
| Number of Pupils | 660 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.7% |
| School Capacity | 660 / 660 (100% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Jun 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (12 Jun 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Oct 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (77%)
2296th of 13,686
Nationally
221st of 1,612
In East of England
10th of 39
In Thurrock
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
77%
Expected Standard
10%
Higher Standard
'22/23
74%
'23/24
77%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed82
140
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
79 families put this school as their 1st choice (56% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% 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 British58.3%
- Asian12.0%
- Mixed10.1%
- White (other)7.4%
- Black1.1%
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 half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
8
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
6
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 Woodside Academy
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
Grangewood Avenue, Grays
Thurrock, RM16 2GJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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