SchoolScoresGreat Dunmow Primary School
Foundation school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Walnut Walk, Woodlands Park Drive, Great Dunmow, CM6 1ZR
01371 873184 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 5 November 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 | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| 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
133 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Essex comparisons use the 223 of its 444 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 221 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 | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 41st highest of 223 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 78% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 38th highest of 223 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 76% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 17th highest of 223 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 88% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 30 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 4th highest of 167 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 97% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 50% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 86 parents who had raised a concern Joint 9th highest of 218 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 95% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 79% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 13 parents of children with SEND 7th highest of 71 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 88% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 65% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 1st highest of 223 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 32%). 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. Essex figures pool parents at the Essex 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
61 pupils in this year group.
87% — 24 points above the Essex average, and 25 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 87% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 13% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 87% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 89% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 90% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 60 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 76 |
| Of those, offered a place | 60 (79%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 163 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.4 · 2026: 1.3
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
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 387th highest of 444 state primary schools in Essex. Higher than 13% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.6% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 232nd highest of 444 state primary schools in Essex. Higher than 41% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.6% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 356th highest of 444 state primary schools in Essex. Higher than 21% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.2% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 257th highest of 444 state primary schools in Essex. Higher than 31% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 78th lowest of 443 state primary schools in Essex. Lower than 77% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.1% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 72nd lowest of 443 state primary schools in Essex. Lower than 79% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.1% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 444 state primary schools in Essex. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 444 state primary schools in Essex. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 89th highest of 443 state primary schools in Essex. Higher than 87% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 24.2 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 254th highest of 443 state primary schools in Essex. Higher than 55% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.0 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 347th highest of 417 state primary schools in Essex. 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.
Nearby primary schools
- Dunmow St Mary's Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Great Easton CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
- Takeley Primary School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stebbing Primary School 3.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Great Dunmow Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 5 November 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Great Dunmow Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 87% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 25 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Great Dunmow Primary School?
100% of the 133 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Great Dunmow Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Great Dunmow Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 76 families put Great Dunmow Primary School as their first choice for 60 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 60 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 115298.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- 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.