Priory Primary School, Bicknacre
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Priory Primary School, Bicknacre is a council school in Chelmsford for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 153 pupils and room for 210. About 15 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 24 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 11% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in March 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.
Bicknacre Road, Bicknacre, Chelmsford, CM3 4ES01245 225450priory.essex.sch.ukMs Claire Laver head teacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted visited on 3 March 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.
Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.
Earlier inspections (1)
| Date | Type | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 7 June 2023 | S5 Inspection | Requires improvement |
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
24 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 24 | 26 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 32 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 63% | 46% | 50% | 69% | 47% | 66% | 64% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 13% | 12% | 6% | 6% | 3% | 16% | 10% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 106.0 | 104.0 | 103.0 | 107.0 | 103.0 | 106.0 | 105.9 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 104.0 | 102.0 | 101.0 | 106.0 | 101.0 | 105.0 | 104.8 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 105.0 | 101.0 | 103.0 | 107.0 | 104.0 | 107.0 | 105.3 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 83% | 77% | 59% | 78% | 67% | 78% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 67% | 50% | 63% | 78% | 60% | 78% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 75% | 65% | 75% | 84% | 73% | 100% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | -2.9 | -0.2 | -4.3 | -1.0 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -4.0 | -1.4 | -5.7 | -2.3 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | – | 0% | – | – | 22% | – | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | – | 60% | – | – | 57% | – | – | – |
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.
52 places were empty (26% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 22% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.
How places were given out for September 2026. The last place was given under this rule: Criterion 4.
| Entry | Places | Applied at all | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Primary | 30 | 38 | – | LA |
What parents say
From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 42 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for primary schools with enough answers to publish.
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 29.0 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 23.8 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (6), language and communications needs (6), Autistic spectrum disorder (2), Hearing impairment (1), Moderate learning difficulty (1), Multi-sensory impairment (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 153 | 142 | 154 | 180 | 188 | 185 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 15% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 6% | 5% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 3% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 12% | 20% | 19% | 20% | 14% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 1% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 94.2% 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 | 5.8% | 6.6% | 6.5% | 7.0% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 4.5% | 4.7% | 5.7% | 6.4% | 3.6% | 3.7% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 1.3% | 1.9% | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.1% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 11.9% | 14.1% | 17.1% | 21.1% | 6.7% | 4.7% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 4.9 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 1 | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Hanningfield Church of England Primary Academy | Academy | 1.5 miles | 109 | Good 2024 | – | Compare |
| St John Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Danbury | Church of England | 1.6 miles | 222 | Good 2023 | 72 | Compare |
| Danbury Park Community Primary School | Council | 1.7 miles | 250 | Good 2024 | 82 | Compare |
| St Mary's Church of England Primary School | Academy | 2.1 miles | 58 | Good 2024 | 43 | Compare |
| Woodham Walter Church of England Primary Academy | Academy | 2.9 miles | 75 | Not inspected | – | Compare |
| Purleigh Community Primary School | Academy | 3.2 miles | 206 | Good 2024 | 70 | Compare |
| Woodville Primary School | Academy | 3.2 miles | 412 | No overall grade 2024 | 75 | Compare |
| Baddow Hall Infant School | Council | 3.5 miles | 166 | No overall grade 2025 | 57 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Priory Primary School, Bicknacre 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.
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 24 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 24% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 12 to 46. 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 | -0.03 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 24 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | well below | -0.21 | Ofsted report card, 0.5 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | below | -0.13 | DfE progress measure; 24 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well above | +0.11 | results and attendance rising year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | in line | 0.00 | 2024/25; 134 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | below | -0.06 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 24 pupils |
| What parents say | 5% | in line | -0.01 | Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 42 responses |
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 Priory Primary School, Bicknacre a good school?
The figures are weak. Priory Primary School, Bicknacre scores 24 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 11% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 12 to 46, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been getting better over the last five years.
What is Priory Primary School, Bicknacre's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 3 March 2026 it rated teaching as as expected, achievement as needs attention, behaviour and attendance as as expected, leadership as as expected.
How good are Priory Primary School, Bicknacre's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 63% 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 Priory Primary School, Bicknacre have?
153 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 210 places, so it is 73% full.
Is Priory Primary School, Bicknacre oversubscribed?
Probably not. 52 places were empty in 2024/25 (26% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Priory Primary School, Bicknacre?
Pupils were in school 94.2% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 12% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
What do parents say about Priory Primary School, Bicknacre?
86% of the 42 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 86% say their child is happy there. Across England, 87% of parents would recommend their child's school.
How big are the classes at Priory Primary School, Bicknacre?
The average class had 25.5 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
- Bicknacre Road, Bicknacre, Chelmsford, CM3 4ES
- Telephone
- 01245 225450
- Website
- www.priory.essex.sch.uk
- Head teacher
- Ms Claire Laver
- Type of school
- Council school (Community school, local authority maintained schools)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 4-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Local authority
- Essex
- Ward
- Bicknacre and East and West Hanningfield
- Constituency
- Maldon
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city
- URN
- 115000 · LAESTAB 8812799 · UKPRN 10080704
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: Essex council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 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.