Kirby Primary Academy

Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed

Part of REACH2 ACADEMY TRUST

Halstead Road, Kirby Cross, Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 0LW

01255 674056 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 23 January 2019; confirmed 2025
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths63%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 218th highest of 386 state primary schools in Essex.
Higher than 44% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils207Room for 210 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 204 in 2019, 215 in 2021, 207 in 2022, 207 in 2023, 207 in 2024, 209 in 2025, 207 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.031 for 30 places, September 2026
Joint 106th highest of 411 state primary schools in Essex.
Higher than 79% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 23 January 2019.

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 educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 26 February 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

76 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.

StatementThis schoolEssexEngland
My child is happy at this school
198th highest of 223 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex.
Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
82% 93% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 188th highest of 223 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex.
Higher than 10% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
84% 93% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 153rd highest of 223 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex.
Higher than 24% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 87% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 28 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 43rd highest of 167 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex.
Higher than 65% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
61% 50% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 54 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 156th highest of 218 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex.
Higher than 22% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
72% 79% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 21 parents of children with SEND
Joint 45th highest of 71 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex.
Higher than 21% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
57% 65% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 153rd highest of 223 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex.
Higher than 25% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83%said yes 87% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 36%). 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.

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Results

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

30 pupils in this year group.

63% — about the same as the Essex average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 63% 63% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 3% 10% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 80% 77% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 77% 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. 102 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 55%This school 2023/24: 30%This school 2024/25: 63% This school England 62% 2022/23 55% 2023/24 30% 2024/25 63%

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 offered30
Families who put it first31
Of those, offered a place28 (90%)
Families who listed it at all58

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
Joint 135th highest of 444 state primary schools in Essex.
Higher than 57% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
24.9% 21.7%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
Joint 264th highest of 444 state primary schools in Essex.
Higher than 36% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.4% 2.9%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
46th highest of 444 state primary schools in Essex.
Higher than 87% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
22.0% 13.9%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
Joint 395th highest of 444 state primary schools in Essex.
Higher than 9% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
1.0% 12.2%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
Joint 242nd lowest of 443 state primary schools in Essex.
Lower than 41% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.3% 5.3%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
183rd lowest of 443 state primary schools in Essex.
Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
10.9% 13.0%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 361st lowest of 444 state primary schools in Essex.
Lower than 13% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
5.7 3.3 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
376th lowest of 444 state primary schools in Essex.
Lower than 11% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
2.9% 1.4% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 335th highest of 443 state primary schools in Essex.
Higher than 39% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
19.7 21.9 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 310th highest of 443 state primary schools in Essex.
Higher than 44% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
10.4 11.3 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
Joint 216th highest of 417 state primary schools in Essex.
Higher than 45% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
11.1% 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 Kirby Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

Kirby Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 23 January 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 26 February 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.

How did Kirby Primary Academy do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 63% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Kirby Primary Academy?

83% of the 76 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Kirby Primary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Kirby Primary Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 31 families put Kirby Primary Academy as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 28 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.