School Chooser

St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch

Primary · ages 4-11MixedChurch of England246 pupilsBurnham-on-CrouchEssex
School Chooser Score
82
Above
similar schools
Likely range 65 to 92
Out of 100. Better than 80% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedGoodConfirmed by Ofsted, September 2022
Reached the expected level at 1194%England 63%
Attendance95.4%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families13%Far fewer than most schools
PlacesFull246 pupils, 240 places
Pupils per teacher21.7School workforce census

St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch is a Church of England school (voluntary aided) in Burnham-on-Crouch for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 246 pupils, 6 more than it has places for. About 13 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 83 out of 100. That puts it above schools like it, ahead of 80% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2022.

Marsh Road, Marsh Rd, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8LZ01621 782626stmarysschoolburnham.org.ukMrs Anna Macartney headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

A shorter visit on 28 September 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.

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

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

Reached the expected level at 1194%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level6%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score107.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score107.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 52%52%20172018: 61%61%20182019: 77%77%20192023: 77%77%20232024: 77%77%20242025: 94%94%2025
Since 2017: +42%Steady overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017EssexEngland
Pupils tested313031303321
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths94%77%77%77%61%52%64%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths6%7%10%17%12%10%10%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score107.0104.0106.0108.0107.0103.0105.9105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score107.0106.0105.0107.0103.0102.0104.8104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score107.0105.0105.0110.0108.0104.0105.3105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard94%80%84%93%79%76%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard94%83%77%93%70%52%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)94%83%81%83%82%86%
Reading progressReading progress score+1.7+1.5-0.7-1.7
Maths progressMaths progress score+2.2+0.4-3.2-1.8
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged78%63%57%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged100%82%83%

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. None of the 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
78%100%
Gap 22 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
90%100%
Gap 10 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
0%6%
Gap 6 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. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

Nearly full237 pupils for 240 places, 2024/25
99% 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 grown by 12% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.

How places were given out for September 2026. The last place was given under this rule: Criterion 6.

EntryPlacesApplied at allHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Primary30104LA

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 roll246Census January 2026
Places240102% full
Pupils from low-income families13%13% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English2%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support7%16 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%7 pupils with a plan
Average class size30.88 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils63%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)13%£49,600 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls121 / 125
White British pupils95%

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 30.7 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 30.8 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (9), Moderate learning difficulty (7), language and communications needs (4), emotional and mental health (3).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll246240242238212209
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals13%14%17%14%17%16%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language2%3%3%3%1%2%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support6%7%8%9%8%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans3%3%3%3%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.4% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance95.4%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school10.2%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils0.42024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission1.0%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence4.6%5.2%5.9%6.7%3.8%3.2%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence3.6%4.4%5.2%5.8%3.1%2.7%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.0%0.7%0.8%0.9%0.7%0.5%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence10.2%9.7%16.1%17.8%6.9%7.6%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate0.40.82.50.00.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00100

Staff and money

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

Teachers11.3full-time equivalent, 16 people
Pupils per teacher21.7Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants7.2full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£50,126
Teachers who left in the year10%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies1
Sick days per teacher0.82024/25

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.

Spend per pupil£6,444England £7,738. Total £1.5m
Income per pupil£6,257England £7,697. Total £1.5m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,098England £3,480
Money in reserve3%Not much put by: £49k, £204 per pupil. England 6%
Money in against money out-£45kit spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£6,444spent 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 m12112 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate56 per 1,000 people38% lower than the England average
Typical house price£382,000Maldon
Nearest bus stop230 mMarsh Road, 2 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
Burnham-on-Crouch Primary SchoolCouncil940 m421Not inspected82Compare
St Leonard's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy1.7 miles258Good 20245Compare
Canewdon Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy3.4 miles90Requires improvement 202016Compare
Maylandsea Primary SchoolAcademy4.0 miles217Good 202433Compare
Christchurch Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy4.6 miles109Report card 20262Compare
Barling Magna Primary AcademyAcademy4.9 miles167Good 201934Compare
St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, TillinghamAcademy5.0 miles87Good 202410Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch with the 50 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 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats80%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the top quarter of its group. Its score of 83 is 28 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 3 · middle 54 · highest 96100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 83 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 83% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 65 to 92. 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%above
+0.13
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 31 pupils
Ofsted inspection18% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.01
Ofsted grade, 4.0 years old
Progress pupils make20%above
+0.11
DfE progress measure; 31 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%above
+0.08
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%above
+0.05
2024/25; 216 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%above
+0.09
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 31 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 St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch scores 83 out of 100. That is above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 80% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 65 to 92, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch good at its last full inspection on 28 September 2022.

How good are St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 94% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 6% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch have?

246 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 240 places, so it is 103% full.

Is St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch oversubscribed?

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

What is attendance like at St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch?

Pupils were in school 95.4% 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 St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch?

The average class had 30.8 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 63% 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
Marsh Road, Marsh Rd, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8LZ
Telephone
01621 782626
Website
www.stmarysschoolburnham.org.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Anna Macartney
Type of school
Church of England school (voluntary aided) (Voluntary aided school, local authority maintained schools)
Phase
Primary school, ages 4-11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England, Diocese of Chelmsford
Local authority
Essex
Ward
Burnham-on-Crouch North
Constituency
Maldon
Setting
Larger rural: Further from a major town or city
URN
115159 · LAESTAB 8813450 · UKPRN 10072423

Where these figures come from