Grove Wood Primary School

Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed

Part of GROVE WOOD ACADEMY TRUST

Grove Road, Rayleigh, SS6 8UA

01268 743445 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 3 December 2024
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths65%England 62% · 2024/25
4th highest of 8 state primary schools in Rayleigh.
Higher than 50% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils630Room for 630 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 630 in 2019, 631 in 2021, 630 in 2022, 630 in 2023, 630 in 2024, 632 in 2025, 630 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.093 for 90 places, September 2026
2nd highest of 8 state primary schools in Rayleigh.
Higher than 79% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 3 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.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Early yearsOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

125 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Rayleigh comparisons use the 4 of its 8 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 4 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.

StatementThis schoolRayleighEngland
My child is happy at this school
1st highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rayleigh.
Higher than 70% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
98% 92% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
1st highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rayleigh.
Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96% 90% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
1st highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rayleigh.
Higher than 78% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 84% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 27 parents whose child had been bullied
3rd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rayleigh.
Higher than 34% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
48% 47% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 92 parents who had raised a concern
1st highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rayleigh.
Higher than 68% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89% 70% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 24 parents of children with SEND
1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rayleigh.
Higher than 35% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
67% 49% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
1st highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rayleigh.
Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
92%said yes 76% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 20%). 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. Rayleigh figures pool parents at the Rayleigh 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.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

92 pupils in this year group.

65% — 2 points above the Essex average, and 3 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 65% 63% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 14% 10% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 84% 77% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 79% 73% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 74% 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. 106 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 63%This school 2023/24: 81%This school 2024/25: 65% This school England 62% 2022/23 63% 2023/24 81% 2024/25 65%

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 offered90
Families who put it first93
Of those, offered a place88 (95%)
Families who listed it at all195

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.1 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Essex

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolEssexEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
6th highest of 8 state primary schools in Rayleigh.
Higher than 16% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
9.5% 21.7%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
5th highest of 8 state primary schools in Rayleigh.
Higher than 46% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.9% 2.9%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
8th highest of 8 state primary schools in Rayleigh.
Higher than 16% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
9.3% 13.9%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
6th highest of 8 state primary schools in Rayleigh.
Higher than 17% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.2% 12.2%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
2nd lowest of 8 state primary schools in Rayleigh.
Lower than 75% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.2% 5.3%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 8 state primary schools in Rayleigh.
Lower than 89% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.3% 13.0%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
3rd lowest of 8 state primary schools in Rayleigh.
Lower than 58% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.6 3.3 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 8 state primary schools in Rayleigh.
Lower than 64% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.3% 1.4% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 2nd highest of 8 state primary schools in Rayleigh.
Higher than 90% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
24.7 21.9 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 8 state primary schools in Rayleigh.
Higher than 98% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
16.5 11.3 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
5th highest of 8 state primary schools in Rayleigh.
Higher than 30% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
7.4% 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Grove Wood Primary School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 3 December 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Grove Wood Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 65% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 3 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Grove Wood Primary School?

92% of the 125 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Grove Wood Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Grove Wood Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 93 families put Grove Wood Primary School as their first choice for 90 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 88 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.