Ardleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy
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Ardleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy is a converter academy in Colchester for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 81 pupils and room for 105. About 16 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 18 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 21% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was requires improvement, back in 2022.
Colchester Road, Ardleigh, Colchester, CO7 7NS01206 230394ardleigh.academyHeadteacher Ben Asbridge headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 4 October 2022, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Requires improvement overall.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
11 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024† | 2023† | 2019† | 2018† | 2017† | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 11 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 19 | 13 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 64% | 56% | 37% | 40% | 42% | 77% | 64% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 10% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 109.0 | 106.0 | 101.0 | 106.0 | 102.0 | 108.0 | 105.9 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 108.0 | 106.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 105.0 | 104.8 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 105.0 | 105.0 | 98.0 | 102.0 | 103.0 | 107.0 | 105.3 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 91% | 69% | 47% | 67% | 63% | 92% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 100% | 88% | 58% | 40% | 47% | 77% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 64% | 63% | 58% | 67% | 95% | 92% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | -4.5 | -0.8 | -3.6 | +0.1 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -3.8 | -6.5 | -5.6 | -2.4 | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
† These results are for St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Ardleigh, the school this one replaced in April 2024. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
35 places were empty (33% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in.
Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Essex council's admissions booklet, send it to us.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 11.5 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 29.0 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (7), emotional and mental health (5), language and communications needs (3), Moderate learning difficulty (2), Specific learning difficulty (2).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 81 | 72 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 16% | 18% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 10% | 6% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 19% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 1% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 94.6% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24† | 2022/23† | 2021/22† | 2020/21† | 2018/19† | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 5.4% | 4.7% | 5.9% | 6.7% | 5.6% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 3.7% | 3.3% | 4.0% | 5.0% | 5.2% | 3.1% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 0.4% | 1.0% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 17.8% | 13.8% | 11.0% | 16.5% | 22.1% | 8.7% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 0.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
† These attendance figures are for St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Ardleigh, the school this one replaced in April 2024. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | Church of England | 2.1 miles | 202 | Good 2024 | 81 | Compare |
| Langham Primary Academy | Academy | 2.1 miles | 101 | Good 2023 | – | Compare |
| St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester | Church of England | 2.5 miles | 210 | Good 2022 | 82 | Compare |
| Roach Vale Primary School | Council | 2.6 miles | 177 | Good 2023 | 36 | Compare |
| Parsons Heath Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | Church of England | 2.6 miles | 197 | Good 2023 | 23 | Compare |
| Brinkley Grove Primary School | Foundation | 2.7 miles | 403 | Not inspected | 59 | Compare |
| Hazelmere Infant School and Nursery | Council | 2.7 miles | 156 | No overall grade 2025 | 5 | Compare |
| Hazelmere Junior School | Council | 2.7 miles | 229 | Good 2022 | 12 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Ardleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy with the 48 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 48 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 18 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 18% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 4 to 63. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | in line | -0.02 | 2025 results; 11 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 18% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old) | well below | -0.58 | Ofsted grade, 3.9 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | above | +0.11 | Contextualised attainment (no DfE progress measure available); 11 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 0% | no data | – | |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | in line | -0.03 | 2024/25; 73 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | above | +0.05 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 11 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Ardleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy a good school?
The figures are weak. Ardleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy scores 18 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 21% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 4 to 63, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.
What is Ardleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Ardleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy requires improvement at its last full inspection on 4 October 2022.
How good are Ardleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 64% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 0% went further and reached the higher level. The year group was small, so the percentages jump around a lot from year to year.
How many pupils does Ardleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy have?
81 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 105 places, so it is 77% full.
Is Ardleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy oversubscribed?
Probably not. 35 places were empty in 2024/25 (33% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Ardleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy?
Pupils were in school 94.6% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 18% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Ardleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy?
The average class had 20.3 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 25% of classes had more than 30 pupils.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Colchester Road, Ardleigh, Colchester, CO7 7NS
- Telephone
- 01206 230394
- Website
- www.ardleigh.academy
- Headteacher
- Headteacher Ben Asbridge
- Type of school
- Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 4-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England, Diocese of Chelmsford
- Multi-academy trust
- Canonium Learning Trust (12 schools)
- Local authority
- Essex
- Ward
- Ardleigh & Little Bromley
- Constituency
- Harwich and North Essex
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 April 2024 (academy converter)
- URN
- 150533 · LAESTAB 8813030 · UKPRN 10094305
- Formerly
- St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Ardleigh
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.