Layer-de-la-Haye CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England

High Road, Layer-de-la-Haye, Colchester, CO2 0DS

01206 734249 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 12 September 2012; confirmed 2023
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths75%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 16th highest of 67 state primary schools in Colchester.
Higher than 77% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils203Room for 210 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 207 in 2019, 206 in 2021, 206 in 2022, 202 in 2023, 207 in 2024, 209 in 2025, 203 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.028 for 29 places, September 2026
35th highest of 68 state primary schools in Colchester.
Higher than 44% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 September 2012.

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
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 9 February 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

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

28 pupils in this year group.

75% — 12 points above the Essex average, and 13 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 75% 63% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 21% 10% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 86% 77% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 82% 73% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 89% 76% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 109 106 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 109 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 71%This school 2023/24: 69%This school 2024/25: 75% This school England 62% 2022/23 71% 2023/24 69% 2024/25 75%

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 offered29
Families who put it first28
Of those, offered a place28 (100%)
Families who listed it at all79

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.4 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Essex

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolEssexEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
Joint 53rd highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester.
Higher than 22% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
11.5% 21.7%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
7th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester.
Higher than 78% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.8% 2.9%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
70th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester.
Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
7.2% 13.9%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
Joint 71st highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester.
Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 12.2%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
Joint 3rd lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester.
Lower than 90% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
3.6% 5.3%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
2nd lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester.
Lower than 95% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
3.8% 13.0%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
53rd lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester.
Lower than 13% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
5.7 3.3 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
55th lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester.
Lower than 14% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
2.4% 1.4% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester.
Higher than 97% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
27.4 21.9 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
9th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester.
Higher than 87% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
13.4 11.3 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
44th highest of 71 state primary schools in Colchester.
Higher than 36% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
9.1% 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 Layer-de-la-Haye CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Layer-de-la-Haye CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 September 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 9 February 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Layer-de-la-Haye CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 13 points above the England average of 62%.

Is Layer-de-la-Haye CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 28 families put Layer-de-la-Haye CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice for 29 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.