Academy converter · Essex

The Robert Drake Primary School

4–11Ages
313Pupils
PrimaryPhase
137246URN

Church Road, New Thundersley, Benfleet, SS7 3HT · 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

3.5per place

1.1 above Essex median (2.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Essex

156 applications for 45 places · 31st of 363 in Essex

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

85%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 · 6 February 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
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

3.5applications per place, Reception

1.1 above Essex median (2.4) 1.3 above England median (2.2)

156 applications · 45 places offered · 47 named it first

2026 3.5; Essex median median 2.4
2025 3.4; Essex median median 2.4
2024 3.3; Essex median median 2.4
2023 3.8; Essex median median 2.4
2022 4.0; Essex median median 2.4
2021 4.4; Essex median median 2.3
2020 5.0; Essex median median 2.4
2019 4.7; Essex median median 2.5
2018 5.5; Essex median median 2.5
2017 5.6; Essex median median 2.6
2016 4.4; Essex median median 2.8
2015 5.5; Essex median median 2.7
2014 4.0; Essex median median 2.8

More applications per place than the Essex median in 13 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	45	156	3.5	47	1.04
Sep 2025	39	132	3.4	30	0.77
Sep 2024	45	148	3.3	39	0.87
Sep 2023	44	169	3.8	46	1.05
Sep 2022	45	179	4.0	46	1.02
Sep 2021	45	200	4.4	54	1.20
Sep 2020	45	227	5.0	55	1.22
Sep 2019	46	217	4.7	54	1.17
Sep 2018	45	247	5.5	75	1.67
Sep 2017	45	250	5.6	62	1.38
Sep 2016	45	199	4.4	41	0.91
Sep 2015	45	249	5.5	82	1.82
Sep 2014	45	179	4.0	60	1.33

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 91% · Writing 98% · Maths 87% → all three 85% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard85%23rd of 387 in Essex

Essex 66% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard91%

Essex 79% England 78%

Higher standard37%

Essex 33% England 33%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard98%

Essex 76% England 75%

Greater depth22%

Essex 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard87%

Essex 78% England 77%

Higher standard48%

Essex 24% England 24%

Average scaled score 109 (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	85%	9%	107	109
2023/24	87%	13%	107	107
2022/23	71%	20%	105	107

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

The Robert Drake Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2024

3.5applications per place 85%met the SATs standard
Kingston Primary School
0.6 km · Essex

Outstanding2023

4.9applications per place 90%met the SATs standard
Holy Family Catholic Primary School
1.0 km · Essex

Good2023

2.5applications per place 43%met the SATs standard
Thundersley Primary School
1.2 km · Essex

Good2023

2.5applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Kents Hill Infant Academy
1.2 km · Essex

Good2024

2.3applications per place
Kents Hill Junior School
1.2 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

77%met the SATs standard
Woodham Ley Primary School
1.3 km · Essex

Good2023

3.3applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
Montgomerie Primary School
1.3 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

2.6applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
Jotmans Hall Primary School
1.6 km · Essex

Requires improvement2024

3.1applications per place 67%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 137246 · 881/5243
Trust: The Robert Drake Primary School
Capacity: 315 pupils · 313 on roll
Free school meals: 14.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 August 2011
Replaced: The Robert Drake Primary School (URN 115283)
Address: Church Road, New Thundersley, Benfleet, SS7 3HT
Local authority: Essex · Castle Point

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