SchoolScoresR A Butler Infant School
Academy · Primary, ages 5 to 7 · Mixed
Part of SAFFRON ACADEMY TRUST
South Road, Saffron Walden, CB11 3DG
01799 523651 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 29 April 2015.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 6 November 2024: Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
58 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Saffron Walden comparisons use the 7 of its 14 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 7 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 | Saffron Walden | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Saffron Walden. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 98% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Saffron Walden. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 98% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 6th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Saffron Walden. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 97% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 29 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Saffron Walden. Higher than 95% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 94% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 1st highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Saffron Walden. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 97% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 21%). 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. Saffron Walden figures pool parents at the Saffron Walden 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
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
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 | 87 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 87 |
| Of those, offered a place | 87 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 176 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.2 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 14 state primary schools in Saffron Walden. Higher than 15% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.2% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 14 state primary schools in Saffron Walden. Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.3% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 11th highest of 14 state primary schools in Saffron Walden. Higher than 27% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.1% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 14 state primary schools in Saffron Walden. Higher than 61% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.1% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Saffron Walden. Lower than 94% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.3% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Saffron Walden. Lower than 91% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 14 state primary schools in Saffron Walden. 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 14 state primary schools in Saffron Walden. 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 6th highest of 14 state primary schools in Saffron Walden. Higher than 61% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.5 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 13th highest of 14 state primary schools in Saffron Walden. Higher than 10% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.0 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 11th highest of 11 state primary schools in Saffron Walden. Higher than 22% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 5.2% | 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
- R A Butler Junior School 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 82% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Saffron Walden 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 94% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Katherine Semar Infant School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Katherine Semar Junior School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is R A Butler Infant School's Ofsted rating?
R A Butler Infant School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 29 April 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 6 November 2024, Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
Would parents recommend R A Butler Infant School?
100% of the 58 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend R A Butler Infant School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is R A Butler Infant School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 87 families put R A Butler Infant School as their first choice for 87 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 87 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 136325.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.