Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #221 in Essex public Top 63% UK

Friars Grove Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Susan Shipp

location_onColchester, CO4 0PZ

language Visit Website phone 1206843683

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2018

groups

Students

406

school

Expected Standard

59%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Friars Grove Primary School is a Community school primary school in Colchester, serving ages 5-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 63% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Friars Grove Primary School is a community school in Colchester, Essex, admitting pupils aged 5-11. The school has approximately 398 pupils on roll, of whom 20% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 59% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 7% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #221 of 387 primaries in Essex and #8,047 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2018. The school's current overall rating is Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 22.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

59%

LA 61%

Reading71% LA 74%

Writing71% LA 70%

Maths71% LA 72%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

48%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading73% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing53% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths73% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

52%

LA 59%England 60%

Reading68% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing68% LA 71% · Eng 71%

Maths60% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.5

Read

LA -0.1

0.9 to 4.1

2.5

Write

LA 0.0

1.0 to 4.1

0.4

Maths

LA -0.3

-1.1 to 1.9

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

63%

LA 64%England 65%

Reading75% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing78% LA 77% · Eng 78%

Maths76% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.1

Read

LA -0.5

-1.7 to 1.6

-1.0

Write

LA -0.2

-2.5 to 0.5

0.3

Maths

LA -0.6

-1.2 to 1.7

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

48%

LA 63%

Reading67% LA 75%

Writing69% LA 77%

Maths57% LA 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.3

Read

LA -0.3

-3.8 to -0.8

-3.1

Write

LA -0.2

-4.6 to -1.6

-3.6

Maths

LA -0.6

-5 to -2.2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

11 July 2023

Inspection Report

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22 February 2018

Inspection Report

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22 October 2013

Inspection Report

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19 January 2012

Inspection Report

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27 November 2008

Inspection Report

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23 February 2004

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2018-02-22

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-10-22

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2012-01-19

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

1.3%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.8%(3 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 398 pupils. During this period, there were 5 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.3%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	398	5	1.3%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	394	1	0.3%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	410	1	0.2%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	410	0	0.0%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	415	0	0.0%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	406	1	0.2%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	406	1	0.2%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	405	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	408	1	0.2%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	408	1	0.2%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	403	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	401	2	0.5%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	400	2	0.5%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	393	6	1.5%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	398	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	398	2	0.5%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	397	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	419	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	419	1	0.2%	0.5%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	418	1	0.2%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	420	3	0.7%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	421	3	0.7%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	420	6	1.4%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	418	4	1.0%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	421	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	420	4	1.0%	0.5%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 19 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 15 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 10 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

100.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

99.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

19.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree38%

agree53%

disagree6%

don't know3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree54%

agree41%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree35%

agree30%

disagree8%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

not applicable25%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree32%

agree53%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know11%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree48%

agree50%

disagree2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree40%

agree54%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree47%

agree49%

disagree1%

don't know4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree59%

agree38%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree33%

agree55%

disagree5%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes97%

no3%

Top Primary Schools in Essex

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Kingston Primary School

Outstanding

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Lift Westerings

Good

location_on Hockley, SS5 4NZ

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Quilters Junior School

Outstanding

location_on Billericay, CM12 9LD

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Lee Chapel Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Basildon, SS16 5RU

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Hereward Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Loughton, IG10 2HR

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Perryfields Junior School

Outstanding

location_on Chelmsford, CM1 7PP

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Essex arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Essex

Kingston Primary School

Lift Westerings

Quilters Junior School

Lee Chapel Primary School

Hereward Primary School

Perryfields Junior School