Community school · Essex

Brightlingsea Primary School and Nursery

2–11Ages
653Pupils
PrimaryPhase
114755URN

Eastern Road, Brightlingsea, Colchester, CO7 0HU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Feb 2024 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.2per place

1.2 below Essex median (2.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Essex

91 applications for 75 places · 356th of 363 in Essex

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

69%met the expected standard

Essex 66% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 28 February 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.2applications per place, Reception

1.2 below Essex median (2.4) 1.0 below England median (2.2)

91 applications · 75 places offered · 76 named it first

2026 1.2; Essex median median 2.4
2025 1.3; Essex median median 2.4
2024 1.2; Essex median median 2.4
2023 1.1; Essex median median 2.4
2022 1.1; Essex median median 2.4
2021 1.2; Essex median median 2.3
2020 1.1; Essex median median 2.4
2019 1.1; Essex median median 2.5
2018 1.2; Essex median median 2.5
2017 1.2; Essex median median 2.6
2016 1.2; Essex median median 2.8
2015 1.3; Essex median median 2.7
2014 1.3; Essex median median 2.8

More applications per place than the Essex median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Essex median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	75	91	1.2	76	1.01
Sep 2025	84	105	1.3	84	1.00
Sep 2024	65	76	1.2	60	0.92
Sep 2023	60	67	1.1	58	0.97
Sep 2022	82	88	1.1	75	0.91
Sep 2021	90	110	1.2	89	0.99
Sep 2020	86	96	1.1	85	0.99
Sep 2019	87	94	1.1	82	0.94
Sep 2018	90	104	1.2	87	0.97
Sep 2017	106	130	1.2	102	0.96
Sep 2016	96	112	1.2	89	0.93
Sep 2015	68	86	1.3	66	0.97
Sep 2014	90	115	1.3	89	0.99

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 81% · Writing 75% · Maths 78% → all three 69% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard69%157th of 387 in Essex

Essex 66% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard81%

Essex 79% England 78%

Higher standard37%

Essex 33% England 33%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard75%

Essex 76% England 75%

Greater depth8%

Essex 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard78%

Essex 78% England 77%

Higher standard27%

Essex 24% England 24%

Average scaled score 105 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Essex median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	69%	6%	107	105
2023/24	72%	10%	107	105
2022/23	58%	4%	104	103

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Brightlingsea Primary School and NurseryThis school
This school

Good2024

1.2applications per place 69%met the SATs standard
St Osyth Church of England Primary School
4.4 km · Essex

Good2023

1.3applications per place 55%met the SATs standard
Alresford Primary School
4.5 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

3.8applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
Great Bentley Primary School
5.3 km · Essex

Remains Outstanding2022

2.2applications per place 61%met the SATs standard
Millfields Primary School
6.4 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.8applications per place 47%met the SATs standard
Fingringhoe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
6.4 km · Essex

Good2023

3.5applications per place 54%met the SATs standard
Sir Martin Frobisher Academy
7.1 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.4applications per place 76%met the SATs standard
St Lawrence Church of England Primary School, Rowhedge
7.3 km · Essex

Standards maintained2024

1.6applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
Ravens Academy
7.5 km · Essex

Good2024

1.5applications per place 41%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 114755 · 881/2068
Capacity: 630 pupils · 653 on roll
Free school meals: 21.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Replaced: Brightlingsea Junior School (URN 114758)
Address: Eastern Road, Brightlingsea, Colchester, CO7 0HU
Local authority: Essex · Tendring

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources