School Chooser

Blenheim Primary School

Primary · ages 3-11MixedAcademy650 pupilsNurseryLeigh-on-SeaSouthend-on-Sea
School Chooser Score
82
Above
similar schools
Likely range 70 to 89
Out of 100. Better than 94% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedOutstandingLast Ofsted inspection, January 2020
Reached the expected level at 1165%England 63%
Attendance95.3%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families18%A bit fewer than most schools
Places7 spare650 pupils, 657 places
Pupils per teacher18.5School workforce census

Blenheim Primary School is a converter academy in Leigh-on-Sea for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 650 pupils and room for 657. About 18 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit fewer than at most schools. We give it 82 out of 100. That puts it above schools like it, ahead of 94% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was outstanding, back in 2020.

School Way, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 4HX01702 474684blenheimprimary.co.ukMrs Amanda Wiley headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 14 January 2020, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Outstanding overall. A later, shorter visit on 2 April 2025 said: “Standards maintained”.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Outstanding
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Outstanding
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Outstanding
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Outstanding
Early years
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

This inspection is more than 6 years old. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of one grade.

Earlier inspections (1)
DateTypeOutcome
2 April 2025UngradedStandards maintained

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

89 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1165%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level13%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score106.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score106.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 71%71%20172018: 76%76%20182019: 81%81%20192023: 65%65%20232024: 68%68%20242025: 65%65%2025
Since 2017: -6%Steady overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017Southend-on-SeaEngland
Pupils tested898891918986
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths65%68%65%81%76%71%63%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths13%13%14%15%11%13%11%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score106.0104.0106.0107.0107.0106.0105.5105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score106.0105.0106.0107.0107.0106.0104.6104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score109.0108.0109.0113.0112.0110.0105.1105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard75%73%75%90%83%83%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard81%78%79%89%89%80%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)80%80%85%87%89%83%
Reading progressReading progress score-0.3+3.1+1.8+3.4
Maths progressMaths progress score+1.4+2.2+3.4+3.0
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged53%55%52%71%61%58%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged69%73%69%84%84%77%

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.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 1 of the 4 gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
53%69%
Gap 16 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
63%70%
Gap 7 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Pupils learning English vs all pupils
90%65%
Gap 25 ptsEngland 4 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
5%13%
Gap 8 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published.

Nearly full618 pupils for 630 places, 2024/25
98% full

Fewer than one place in twenty is empty, so in most years more families apply than there are places. Living close by, or already having a child here, makes a real difference. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.

Will my child get a place?

In 2026 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2026. Every child who applied got a place.

EntryApplied at allGot a placeHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Primary22289all offeredLA
2025 Primary17580LA
2024 Primary90LA
2023 Primary90LA
2022 Primary90LA
2021 Primary90LA

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.

Pupils on roll650Census January 2026
Places65799% full
Pupils from low-income families18%18% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English10%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support10%64 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan8%49 pupils with a plan
Average class size25.524 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils0%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)18%£168,950 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls346 / 304
White British pupils74%

Specialist SEND provision. Resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) with 12 pupils, for autism.

To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in Southend-on-Sea with autism provision.

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 27.3 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 27.3 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (31), emotional and mental health (28), language and communications needs (27), Moderate learning difficulty (19), Specific learning difficulty (4), Hearing impairment (1).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll650651661657656648
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals18%18%17%18%17%17%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language10%10%12%7%5%5%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support12%12%6%7%5%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans5%4%4%4%4%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.3% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance95.3%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school10.4%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils0.92024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission1.1%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence4.7%5.4%5.2%6.3%4.3%4.3%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence3.6%4.1%3.9%4.8%3.1%2.8%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.1%1.3%1.2%1.5%1.2%1.4%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence10.4%14.4%11.8%18.6%11.0%8.4%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate0.90.20.81.50.2
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers34.5full-time equivalent, 39 people
Pupils per teacher18.5Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers97%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants12.8full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£47,208
Teachers who left in the year14%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher6.52024/25

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.

Spend per pupil£7,139England £7,128. Total £4.6m
Income per pupil£7,539England £7,587. Total £4.8m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,350England £3,405
Money in reserve2%Very little put by: £103k, £161 per pupil. England 9%
Money in against money out+£256kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£7,139spent per pupil

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

Crimes within 500 m19212 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate62 per 1,000 people32% lower than the England average
Typical house price£340,000Southend-on-Sea
Nearest bus stop210 mSchool Way, 17 stops within 500 m

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.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Darlinghurst AcademyAcademy720 m547Not inspected75Compare
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy960 m464Good 202255Compare
Eastwood Primary School & NurseryAcademy0.6 miles469Good 2023Compare
Fairways Primary SchoolCouncil0.8 miles407Good 202350Compare
West Leigh Infant SchoolCouncil0.8 miles360Good 202457Compare
West Leigh Junior SchoolAcademy0.8 miles526Report card 202692Compare
Chalkwell Hall Junior SchoolAcademy0.8 miles450Good 2023Compare
Chalkwell Hall Infant SchoolCouncil0.8 miles321Good 202371Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Blenheim Primary School with the 46 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 46 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats94%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
Near the very top of its group. Its score of 82 is 38 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 8 · middle 44 · highest 95100

No school with a similar mix of pupils within 25 km scores clearly higher.

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 82 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 82% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 70 to 89. 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 atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%in line
+0.06
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 89 pupils
Ofsted inspection11% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)well above
+0.26
Ofsted grade, 6.7 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
+0.07
DfE progress measure; 89 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
+0.00
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%above
+0.04
2024/25; 549 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
+0.00
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 89 pupils
What parents say0%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 Blenheim Primary School a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. Blenheim Primary School scores 82 out of 100. That is above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 94% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 70 to 89, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Blenheim Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Blenheim Primary School outstanding at its last full inspection on 14 January 2020. That was more than four years ago. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of a single grade.

How good are Blenheim Primary School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 65% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 13% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does Blenheim Primary School have?

650 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 657 places, so it is 99% full.

Is Blenheim Primary School oversubscribed?

Often. Fewer than one place in twenty was empty in 2024/25, so popular year groups fill up.

What is attendance like at Blenheim Primary School?

Pupils were in school 95.3% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 10% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Blenheim Primary School?

The average class had 25.5 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.

Does Blenheim Primary School have specialist SEND provision?

Yes. It has resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) for autism. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
School Way, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 4HX
Telephone
01702 474684
Website
www.blenheimprimary.co.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Amanda Wiley
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
Gender
Mixed
Multi-academy trust
Learning in Harmony Multi Academy Trust (14 schools)
Local authority
Southend-on-Sea
Ward
Blenheim Park
Constituency
Southend West and Leigh
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 September 2016 (academy converter)
URN
143337 · LAESTAB 8822387 · UKPRN 10057720
Formerly
Blenheim Primary School and Children's Centre

Where these figures come from