Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #307 in Essex public Top 63% UK

St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Ardleigh

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

personMrs Lois Osborne

location_onColchester, CO7 7NS

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

108

school

Expected Standard

56%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Ardleigh is a Voluntary controlled school primary school in Colchester, serving ages 5-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 63% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Ardleigh is a voluntary controlled school in Colchester, Essex, admitting pupils aged 5-11. The school has approximately 108 pupils on roll.

In 2024, 56% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 6% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #307 of 415 primaries in Essex and #11,742 of 15,713 nationally.

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

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. There are no current teaching vacancies. Teacher turnover in the previous year was 41.8%.

In the 2023/24 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 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)

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

56%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading69% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing63% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths88% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

37%

LA 59%England 60%

Reading47% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing58% LA 71% · Eng 71%

Maths58% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-4.5

Read

LA -0.1

-7.4 to -1.7

-3.1

Write

LA 0.0

-5.8 to -0.3

-3.8

Maths

LA -0.3

-6.5 to -1.2

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

40%

LA 64%England 65%

Reading67% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing67% LA 77% · Eng 78%

Maths40% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.8

Read

LA -0.5

-4.2 to 2.5

-4.3

Write

LA -0.2

-7.2 to -1.4

-6.5

Maths

LA -0.6

-9.5 to -3.6

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

42%

LA 63%

Reading63% LA 75%

Writing95% LA 77%

Maths47% LA 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.6

Read

LA -0.3

-6.3 to -0.9

2.8

Write

LA -0.2

0.2 to 5.4

-5.6

Maths

LA -0.6

-8 to -3.2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

Inspection Report

31 March 2024

Inspection Report

04 October 2022

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

21 March 2017

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

04 July 2012

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

07 January 2011

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

28 January 2008

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

06 May 2003

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2022-10-04

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-03-21

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2012-07-04

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2008-01-28

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Summer term 2024

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.063% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Summer term of 2024, this school served a headcount of 89 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2023/24 (Summer term)	89	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	92	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	91	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	106	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	108	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	111	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	113	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	113	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	116	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	106	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	102	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	100	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	113	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	113	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	114	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	112	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	107	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	105	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	117	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	116	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	116	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	116	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	116	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	114	0.0%	0.5%

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

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.

100.0%Positive

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

10.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree50%

agree40%

disagree10%

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

strongly agree45%

agree45%

disagree5%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree35%

agree15%

disagree20%

not applicable30%

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 agree30%

agree60%

disagree10%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree45%

agree35%

disagree15%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree25%

agree60%

disagree15%

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

strongly agree35%

agree60%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree35%

agree50%

disagree5%

don't know10%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree45%

agree45%

disagree5%

don't know5%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes80%

no20%

Top Primary Schools in Essex

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Kingston Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Thundersley, SS7 3HG

emoji_events #1 in LA

Lift Westerings

Good

location_on Hockley, SS5 4NZ

emoji_events #2 in LA

Quilters Junior School

Outstanding

location_on Billericay, CM12 9LD

emoji_events #3 in LA

Lee Chapel Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Basildon, SS16 5RU

emoji_events #4 in LA

Hereward Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Loughton, IG10 2HR

emoji_events #5 in LA

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

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)

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

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