School Chooser

The Alderton Junior School

Primary · ages 7-11MixedAcademy225 pupils Free breakfast clubLoughtonEssex
School Chooser Score
40
In line with
similar schools
Likely range 23 to 60
Out of 100. Better than 70% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, January 2023
Reached the expected level at 1159%England 63%
Attendance95.4%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families28%About the same as most schools in England
Places15 spare225 pupils, 240 places
Pupils per teacher16.8School workforce census

The Alderton Junior School is a sponsored academy in Loughton for boys and girls aged 7 to 11. It has 225 pupils and room for 240. About 28 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 40 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 70% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2023.

Alderton Hall Lane, Loughton, IG10 3HE020 8508 2521ajs.efspt.orgMiss Kirsty Johnson headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 17 January 2023, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall.

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

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

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

Reached the expected level at 1159%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level5%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score105.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score104.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 39%39%20172018: 43%43%20182019: 60%60%20192023: 40%40%20232024: 57%57%20242025: 59%59%2025
Since 2017: +20%Steady overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure20252024202320192018†2017†EssexEngland
Pupils tested446357458059
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths59%57%40%60%43%39%64%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths5%6%9%7%1%5%10%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score105.0104.0103.0101.0102.0100.0105.9105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score104.0104.0104.0103.099.0100.0104.8104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score104.0104.0102.0103.0102.0103.0105.3105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard68%75%58%69%64%54%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard73%75%67%78%49%59%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)70%67%60%80%69%75%
Reading progressReading progress score-2.0-3.0-2.4-4.3
Maths progressMaths progress score-0.4-2.1-5.0-4.1
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged33%41%26%44%23%25%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged66%63%47%69%55%46%

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 The Alderton Junior School, the school this one replaced in September 2018. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

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
33%66%
Gap 33 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
46%78%
Gap 32 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Pupils learning English vs all pupils
70%59%
Gap 11 ptsEngland 4 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
11%5%
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.

Plenty of spare places213 pupils for 360 places, 2024/25
59% full

147 places were empty (41% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 12% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

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.

EntryPlacesApplied at allHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Primary6060all offeredLA

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 roll225Census January 2026
Places24094% full
Pupils from low-income families28%28% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English26%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support15%34 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan6%13 pupils with a plan
Average class size24.38 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)28%£96,100 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls115 / 110
White British pupils59%

Specialist SEND provision. Resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) with 5 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 Essex with autism provision.

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: language and communications needs (13), Autistic spectrum disorder (10), Specific learning difficulty (9), emotional and mental health (6), Moderate learning difficulty (4), Physical disability (2).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll225211215216243278
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals28%22%23%25%22%21%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language26%24%24%21%19%18%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support20%22%26%21%22%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans7%4%4%5%4%

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 school8.0%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils1.92024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission0.9%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence4.6%4.6%4.7%5.8%3.0%4.1%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence3.7%3.8%3.8%4.6%2.3%2.6%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence0.9%0.8%0.9%1.2%0.7%1.5%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence8.0%6.6%9.2%12.8%3.8%9.2%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate1.90.50.90.80.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

Staff and money

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

Teachers13.4full-time equivalent, 15 people
Pupils per teacher16.8Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants7.0full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£49,765
Teachers who left in the year25%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher2.22024/25

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£5,161England £7,128. Total £1.1m
Income per pupil£8,052England £7,587. Total £1.7m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,185England £3,405
Money in reserve7%Not much put by: £110k, £522 per pupil. England 9%
Money in against money out+£610kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£5,161spent 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 m23912 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate63 per 1,000 people31% lower than the England average
Typical house price£515,000Epping Forest
Nearest bus stop120 mParkmead, 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
The Alderton Infant School and NurseryAcademy100 m207Good 202313Compare
White Bridge Primary SchoolAcademy0.7 miles434Good 202442Compare
Staples Road Primary SchoolAcademy0.8 miles626Good 202268Compare
Thomas Willingale Primary School and NurseryFoundation0.8 miles486Good 202370Compare
St John Fisher Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy1.0 miles268Report card 20256Compare
Hereward Primary SchoolAcademy1.4 miles445Outstanding 202499Compare
Chigwell Primary AcademyAcademy1.4 miles200Good 202363Compare
Buckhurst Hill Community Primary SchoolAcademy1.4 miles389Not inspected54Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares The Alderton Junior School with the 33 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 33 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats70%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the upper half of its group. Its score of 40 is 19 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 0 · middle 20 · highest 92100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 33 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than The Alderton Junior 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.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Rokesly Junior SchoolCouncil9.1 miles270Not inspected92Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 40 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 40% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 23 to 60. 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%below
-0.10
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 44 pupils
Ofsted inspection18% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.01
Ofsted grade, 3.7 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.11
DfE progress measure; 44 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%above
+0.07
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%above
+0.05
2024/25; 224 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%below
-0.05
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 44 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 The Alderton Junior School a good school?

It is about average. The Alderton Junior School scores 40 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 70% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 23 to 60, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is The Alderton Junior School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated The Alderton Junior School good at its last full inspection on 17 January 2023.

How good are The Alderton Junior School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 59% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 5% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does The Alderton Junior School have?

225 pupils aged 7 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 240 places, so it is 94% full.

Is The Alderton Junior School oversubscribed?

Probably not. 147 places were empty in 2024/25 (41% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at The Alderton Junior School?

Pupils were in school 95.4% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 8% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at The Alderton Junior School?

The average class had 24.3 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.

Does The Alderton Junior 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.

Does The Alderton Junior School have a breakfast club?

Yes. It is on the government's free breakfast club programme, so every pupil can have a free half-hour breakfast club before school.

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

Contact and details

Address
Alderton Hall Lane, Loughton, IG10 3HE
Telephone
020 8508 2521
Website
ajs.efspt.org
Headteacher
Miss Kirsty Johnson
Free breakfast club
Yes: on the government's programme, so every pupil can have a free half-hour breakfast club before school (listed since September 2026).
Type of school
Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
Phase
Primary school, ages 7-11
Gender
Mixed
Multi-academy trust
Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust (16 schools)
Local authority
Essex
Ward
Loughton Roding
Constituency
Epping Forest
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 September 2018 (new provision)
URN
145728 · LAESTAB 8812175 · UKPRN 10067060
Formerly
The Alderton Junior School

Where these figures come from