Academy converter · Essex

Elmstead Primary School

4–11Ages
211Pupils
PrimaryPhase
149972URN

Elmcroft, Holly Way, Elmstead Market, Colchester, CO7 7YQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Jun 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.9per place

1.5 above Essex median (2.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Essex

78 applications for 20 places · 19th of 363 in Essex

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

47%met the expected standard

Essex 66% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 23 June 2026Published 9 September 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Strong standard	Expected standard
Inclusion			Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching			Expected standard
Achievement			Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour			Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing		Strong standard
Early years		Strong standard
Post-16 provision	Does not apply to this school
Leadership and governance			Expected standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

23 June 2026
Report card · 2 Strong standard, 5 Expected standard
25 September 2019
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good · as Elmstead Primary School, URN 115260

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

3.9applications per place, Reception

1.5 above Essex median (2.4) 1.7 above England median (2.2)

78 applications · 20 places offered · 19 named it first

2026 3.9; Essex median median 2.4
2025 3.4; Essex median median 2.4
2024 2.7; Essex median median 2.4
2023 3.2; Essex median median 2.4; as the previous school
2022 3.0; Essex median median 2.4; as the previous school
2021 3.1; Essex median median 2.3; as the previous school
2020 2.8; Essex median median 2.4; as the previous school
2019 3.0; Essex median median 2.5; as the previous school
2018 3.2; Essex median median 2.5; as the previous school
2017 3.9; Essex median median 2.6; as the previous school
2016 3.3; Essex median median 2.8; as the previous school
2015 2.9; Essex median median 2.7; as the previous school
2014 3.3; Essex median median 2.8; as the previous school

This school
Essex median

Dashed bars: as Elmstead Primary School (URN 115260), the previous school.

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	20	78	3.9	19	0.95
Sep 2025	30	102	3.4	38	1.27
Sep 2024	29	79	2.7	27	0.93
Sep 2023 *	30	96	3.2	29	0.97
Sep 2022 *	30	89	3.0	29	0.97
Sep 2021 *	25	77	3.1	19	0.76
Sep 2020 *	24	68	2.8	24	1.00
Sep 2019 *	30	90	3.0	27	0.90
Sep 2018 *	30	95	3.2	31	1.03
Sep 2017 *	30	118	3.9	31	1.03
Sep 2016 *	29	96	3.3	27	0.93
Sep 2015 *	30	86	2.9	22	0.73
Sep 2014 *	30	100	3.3	29	0.97

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 88% · Writing 69% · Maths 63% → all three 47% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard47%331st of 387 in Essex

Essex 66% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard88%

Essex 79% England 78%

Higher standard28%

Essex 33% England 33%

Average scaled score 105 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard69%

Essex 76% England 75%

Greater depth6%

Essex 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard63%

Essex 78% England 77%

Higher standard22%

Essex 24% England 24%

Average scaled score 103 (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	47%	3%	105	103
2023/24	43%	3%	104	103
2022/23	73%	3%	108	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

Elmstead Primary SchoolThis school
This school

2026

3.9applications per place 47%met the SATs standard
St George's Church of England Primary School, Great Bromley
2.8 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

2.7applications per place 47%met the SATs standard
Broomgrove Infant School
3.0 km · Essex

Good2024

2.5applications per place
Broomgrove Junior School
3.0 km · Essex

Remains Good2024

47%met the SATs standard
Millfields Primary School
3.1 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.8applications per place 47%met the SATs standard
Hazelmere Junior School
3.7 km · Essex

Good2022

38%met the SATs standard
Hazelmere Infant School and Nursery
3.7 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place
Roach Vale Primary School
3.8 km · Essex

Good2023

2.7applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Unity Primary Academy
3.9 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.6applications per place 70%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 149972 · 881/5220
Trust: Penrose Learning Trust
Capacity: 208 pupils · 211 on roll
Free school meals: 17.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2023
Replaced: Elmstead Primary School (URN 115260)
Address: Elmcroft, Holly Way, Elmstead Market, Colchester, CO7 7YQ
Local authority: Essex · Tendring

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources