Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School
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Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School is a Church of England school (voluntary controlled) in Essendon for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 77 pupils and room for 115. About 27 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 10 out of 100. That puts it well below schools like it, ahead of 36% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2022.
School Lane, Essendon, AL9 6HD01707 261209essendon.herts.sch.ukMrs Lesley Brennan headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
A shorter visit on 20 July 2022 found nothing to change the school's grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Good overall. A shorter follow-up visit found nothing to change that. The last full inspection was before September 2019, which is as far back as Ofsted's public records go, so we can't show its date or the grades for each area.
This inspection is more than 4 years old. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of one grade.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
12 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 | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 10 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 17% | 38% | 38% | 60% | 50% | 60% | 64% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 0% | 0% | 10% | 8% | 20% | 10% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 107.0 | 101.0 | 104.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 105.0 | 106.6 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 98.0 | 102.0 | 99.0 | 105.0 | 100.0 | 105.0 | 105.2 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 102.0 | 99.0 | 103.0 | 106.0 | 98.0 | 106.0 | 106.1 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 83% | 46% | 69% | 60% | 58% | 80% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 33% | 69% | 54% | 80% | 58% | 60% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 50% | 46% | 46% | 70% | 67% | 100% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | -1.5 | -0.8 | -2.2 | +1.0 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -5.1 | +2.6 | -1.7 | +0.6 | – | – |
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.
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.
33 places were empty (31% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 18% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.
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 (1 offers for 15 places).
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 14.0 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 24.5 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: language and communications needs (3), Moderate learning difficulty (2), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (2), emotional and mental health (2), Specific learning difficulty (2), Vision impairment (2).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 77 | 80 | 86 | 93 | 95 | 92 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 27% | 23% | 23% | 24% | 23% | 22% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 9% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 5% | 4% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 19% | 34% | 25% | 17% | 19% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 5% | 0% | 0% | 3% | 1% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 93.9% 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 | 6.1% | 9.1% | 9.9% | 8.7% | 6.4% | 8.1% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 4.5% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 5.9% | 5.1% | 5.2% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 1.6% | 2.1% | 2.9% | 2.8% | 1.3% | 3.0% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 12.7% | 32.1% | 28.1% | 28.6% | 15.9% | 27.7% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 8.8 | 8.1 | 5.4 | 7.4 | 7.6 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the council school accounts, year to March 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | Church of England | 1.9 miles | 87 | Not inspected | 3 | Compare |
| Commonswood Primary & Nursery School | Council | 2.0 miles | 410 | Good 2023 | 75 | Compare |
| Hertingfordbury Cowper Primary School | Church of England | 2.1 miles | 229 | Not inspected | 85 | Compare |
| Ponsbourne St Mary's Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 2.7 miles | 110 | Good 2019 | 41 | Compare |
| Watchlytes Primary School | Academy | 2.7 miles | 158 | Report card 2025 | 67 | Compare |
| The Ryde School | Council | 2.8 miles | 191 | Good 2024 | 72 | Compare |
| Swallow Dell Primary and Nursery School | Council | 2.8 miles | 418 | No overall grade 2025 | 54 | Compare |
| Creswick Academy | Academy | 2.8 miles | 325 | Requires improvement 2022 | 2 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School with the 47 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 47 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 47 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cockernhoe Endowed CofE Primary School | Church of England | 13.3 miles | 68 | Report card 2026 | 47 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 10 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 10% 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 30. 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% | below | -0.23 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 12 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 17% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old) | in line | +0.01 | Ofsted grade, 4.2 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | well below | -0.26 | DfE progress measure; 12 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | in line | -0.01 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | in line | -0.03 | 2024/25; 71 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | well below | -0.16 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 12 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 Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School a good school?
The figures are weak. Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School scores 10 out of 100. That is well below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 36% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 4 to 30, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.
What is Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School good at its last full inspection on 20 July 2022. 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 Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 17% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 8% 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 Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School have?
77 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 115 places, so it is 67% full.
Is Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School oversubscribed?
Probably not. 33 places were empty in 2024/25 (31% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School?
Pupils were in school 93.9% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 13% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School?
The average class had 19.3 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class 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
- School Lane, Essendon, AL9 6HD
- Telephone
- 01707 261209
- Website
- www.essendon.herts.sch.uk
- Headteacher
- Mrs Lesley Brennan
- Type of school
- Church of England school (voluntary controlled) (Voluntary controlled school, local authority maintained schools)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England, Diocese of St Albans
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- Ward
- Brookmans Park and Little Heath
- Constituency
- Welwyn Hatfield
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city
- URN
- 117393 · LAESTAB 9193015 · UKPRN 10077396
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, consistent financial reporting 2024/25.
- Admissions outcomes: Hertfordshire council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2024, 2025, 2026.
- 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.