Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #299 in Essex public Top 67% UK

St Margaret's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Toppesfield

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

personMrs Stephanie Newland

location_onHalstead, CO9 4DS

language Visit Website phone 1787237354

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

school

Expected Standard

57%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.8x

summarize

St Margaret's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Toppesfield is a Voluntary controlled school primary school in Halstead, serving ages 4-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 67% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St Margaret's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Toppesfield is a voluntary controlled school in Halstead, Essex, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 66 pupils on roll, of whom 12% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 57% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #299 of 387 primaries in Essex and #11,056 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.7 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

57%

LA 61%

Reading86% LA 74%

Writing71% LA 70%

Maths57% LA 72%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

13%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading38% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing25% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths25% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

54%

LA 59%England 60%

Reading92% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing92% LA 71% · Eng 71%

Maths54% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.1

Read

LA -0.1

-3.3 to 3.5

1.0

Write

LA 0.0

-2.3 to 4.3

-5.6

Maths

LA -0.3

-8.8 to -2.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

36%

LA 64%England 65%

Reading71% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing71% LA 77% · Eng 78%

Maths36% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.4

Read

LA -0.5

-6.6 to -0.1

-5.4

Write

LA -0.2

-8.3 to -2.4

-6.0

Maths

LA -0.6

-8.8 to -3.1

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

40%

LA 63%

Reading70% LA 75%

Writing70% LA 77%

Maths50% LA 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.4

Read

LA -0.3

-6.3 to 1.5

-2.5

Write

LA -0.2

-6.1 to 1.1

-4.8

Maths

LA -0.6

-8.4 to -1.2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 November 2022

Inspection Report

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22 October 2019

Inspection Report

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13 January 2016

Inspection Report

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24 April 2014

Inspection Report

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28 January 2014

Inspection Report

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04 November 2010

Inspection Report

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12 May 2008

Inspection Report

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13 January 2004

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2022-11-08

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2016-01-13

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2014-01-28

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

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

4.5%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.5%(1 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 66 pupils. During this period, there were 3 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 4.5%, 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
2024/25 (Spring term)	66	3	4.5%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	69	2	2.9%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	73	3	4.1%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	71	3	4.2%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	70	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	70	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	65	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	64	1	1.6%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	68	2	2.9%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	74	1	1.4%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	76	1	1.3%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	70	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	69	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	67	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	74	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	74	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	76	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	79	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	77	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	78	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	76	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	77	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	76	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	70	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	73	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	72	0	0.0%	0.5%

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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 8 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 4 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/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.

101.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

87.0%Positive

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

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree38%

agree44%

disagree19%

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

strongly agree38%

agree50%

disagree13%

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

strongly agree25%

agree25%

disagree31%

not applicable19%

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 agree44%

agree25%

disagree13%

don't know19%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree38%

agree44%

disagree19%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree31%

agree56%

disagree6%

strongly disagree6%

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

strongly agree19%

agree50%

disagree19%

don't know13%

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

strongly agree19%

agree44%

disagree25%

strongly disagree13%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree25%

agree31%

disagree31%

don't know13%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes69%

no31%

Top Primary Schools in Essex

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Outstanding

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Lift Westerings

Good

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Outstanding

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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

emoji_events #5 in LA

Perryfields Junior School

Outstanding

location_on Chelmsford, CM1 7PP

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

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.

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