Ofsted: Outstanding emoji_events #65 in Essex public Top 9% UK

R A Butler Junior School

verifiedData: DfE & Ofsted 2024/25

personHead not listed

corporate_fareSAFFRON ACADEMY TRUST

location_onSaffron Walden, CB11 3DG

language Visit Website phone 1799523651

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

365

school

Expected Standard

82%

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Age Range

7-11

summarize

R A Butler Junior School is a Academy converter primary school in Saffron Walden, serving ages 7-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Ranks in the top 9% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

R A Butler Junior School is an academy converter in Saffron Walden, Essex, admitting pupils aged 7-11. It is part of SAFFRON ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 384 pupils on roll, of whom 12% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 82% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 33% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #65 of 387 primaries in Essex and #2,463 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 26.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: Department for Education 2024/25, Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

82%

LA 61%

Reading93% LA 74%

Writing86% LA 70%

Maths93% LA 72%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

80%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading88% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing84% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths87% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

73%

LA 59%England 60%

Reading88% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing79% LA 71% · Eng 71%

Maths86% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.0

Read

LA -0.1

0.7 to 3.3

0.5

Write

LA 0.0

-0.7 to 1.8

0.7

Maths

LA -0.3

-0.5 to 1.9

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

80%

LA 64%England 65%

Reading82% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing92% LA 77% · Eng 78%

Maths91% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.8

Read

LA -0.5

-0.5 to 2.2

1.7

Write

LA -0.2

0.5 to 3.0

1.8

Maths

LA -0.6

0.6 to 3.0

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

79%

LA 63%

Reading85% LA 75%

Writing85% LA 77%

Maths89% LA 73%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.9

Read

LA -0.3

0.6 to 3.2

1.4

Write

LA -0.2

0.2 to 2.6

2.9

Maths

LA -0.6

1.7 to 4.1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 May 2024

Inspection Report

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22 November 2022

Inspection Report

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06 June 2017

Inspection Report

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02 July 2013

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-05-08

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2017-06-06

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-07-02

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2007-05-23

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

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

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)

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 384 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	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	384	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	384	0	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	383	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	384	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	383	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	364	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	365	1	0.3%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	364	1	0.3%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	366	2	0.5%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	365	2	0.5%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	365	1	0.3%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	374	1	0.3%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	373	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	374	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	378	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	378	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	376	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	360	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	356	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	355	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	356	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	358	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	358	1	0.3%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	339	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	333	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	327	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.

Speech, Language & Communication 21 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 19 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 12 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 11 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 9 pupils

Visual Impairment 9 pupils

Physical Disability 3 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.

99.0%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.

15.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree71%

agree27%

disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree74%

agree24%

disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree52%

agree18%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

not applicable28%

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

yes14%

no86%

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

strongly agree60%

agree30%

disagree10%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree65%

agree31%

disagree2%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree78%

agree19%

disagree2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree65%

agree33%

disagree1%

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

strongly agree81%

agree17%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

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

strongly agree92%

agree8%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree73%

agree26%

disagree1%

don't know1%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes100%

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Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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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

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Outstanding

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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

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