SchoolScoresBirchanger CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Birchwood, Birchanger, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 5QL
01279 812362 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 28 April 2026 , published 16 June 2026.
In short: 7 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
11 pupils in this year group.
64% — about the same as the Essex average, and 2 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 64% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 91% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 82% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 73% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 10 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 10 |
| Of those, offered a place | 10 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 28 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
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.
This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 13th highest of 24 state primary schools in Bishop's Stortford. Higher than 25% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.4% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 19th highest of 24 state primary schools in Bishop's Stortford. Higher than 29% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.1% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 23rd highest of 24 state primary schools in Bishop's Stortford. Higher than 1% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.1% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 13th highest of 24 state primary schools in Bishop's Stortford. Higher than 54% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.3% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 24 state primary schools in Bishop's Stortford. Lower than 72% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 24 state primary schools in Bishop's Stortford. Lower than 82% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.6% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 10th lowest of 24 state primary schools in Bishop's Stortford. Lower than 50% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.0 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 13th lowest of 24 state primary schools in Bishop's Stortford. Lower than 38% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 22nd highest of 23 state primary schools in Bishop's Stortford. Higher than 2% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 11.6 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 19th highest of 23 state primary schools in Bishop's Stortford. Higher than 9% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 7.9 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 21 state primary schools in Bishop's Stortford. Higher than 88% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 28.6% | 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.
Nearby primary schools
- St Mary's CofE Foundation Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- All Saints CofE Primary School and Nursery, Bishop's Stortford 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Summercroft Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2022 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Avanti Meadows Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Magna Carta Primary Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No graded inspection · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thorn Grove Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bentfield Primary School and Nursery 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Windhill21 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2018), confirmed 2025 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Northgate Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 82% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael's CofE Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Birchanger CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Birchanger CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 28 April 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 7 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did Birchanger CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 64% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 2 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Birchanger CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 10 families put Birchanger CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice for 10 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 10 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 115127.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.