SchoolScoresAcorn Infant Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 7 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of BRIDGE ACADEMY TRUST
Spa Road, Witham, CM8 1NA
01376 512605 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 17 December 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Witham comparisons use the 6 of its 11 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 5 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Witham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 2nd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Witham. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 90% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Witham. Higher than 39% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 2nd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Witham. Higher than 37% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 85% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 10 parents whose child had been bullied 6th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Witham. Higher than 0% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 0% | 42% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 18 parents who had raised a concern Joint 2nd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Witham. Higher than 48% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 74% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 10 parents of children with SEND Joint 9th highest of 71 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 83% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Witham. Higher than 48% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91%said yes | 83% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Witham figures pool parents at the Witham schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Essex. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 68 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 41 |
| Of those, offered a place | 41 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 99 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.6
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 12 places for speech, language and communication needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 11 state primary schools in Witham. Higher than 73% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 34.5% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 11 state primary schools in Witham. Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.9% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 11 state primary schools in Witham. Higher than 95% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 27.2% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 11 state primary schools in Witham. Higher than 33% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.9% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 11 state primary schools in Witham. Lower than 27% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.9% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 7th lowest of 11 state primary schools in Witham. Lower than 24% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 16.9% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 9th lowest of 11 state primary schools in Witham. Lower than 8% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 8.0 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 6th lowest of 11 state primary schools in Witham. Lower than 43% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.9% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 11th highest of 11 state primary schools in Witham. Higher than 11% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.0 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 11th highest of 11 state primary schools in Witham. Higher than 9% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 7.9 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 9th highest of 11 state primary schools in Witham. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 13.5%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Witham Oaks Academy 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Templars Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 42% met expected standard (KS2)
- Elm Hall Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- Howbridge Infant School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Holy Family Catholic Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Howbridge CofE Junior School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- Chipping Hill Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Rivenhall CofE Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Terling CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- White Notley CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Acorn Infant Academy's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 17 December 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend Acorn Infant Academy?
91% of the 32 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Acorn Infant Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Acorn Infant Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 41 families put Acorn Infant Academy as their first choice for 68 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 41 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 147255.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.