Richard de Clare Community Academy

Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class

Part of BRIDGE ACADEMY TRUST

Parsonage Street, Halstead, CO9 2JT

01787 472153 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card7 expectedSafeguarding met · 2 June 2026
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths48%England 62% · 2024/25
8th highest of 9 state primary schools in Halstead.
Higher than 14% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils370Room for 466 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 420 in 2019, 340 in 2021, 352 in 2022, 359 in 2023, 360 in 2024, 364 in 2025, 370 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.842 for 50 places, September 2026
8th highest of 11 state primary schools in Halstead.
Higher than 12% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 2 June 2026 , published 6 July 2026.

In short: 7 expected, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Early yearsNursery and reception classes. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

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

46 pupils in this year group.

48% — 15 points below the Essex average, and 14 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 48% 63% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 2% 10% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 72% 77% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 63% 73% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 65% 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
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: 40%This school 2024/25: 48% This school England 62% 2022/23 55% 2023/24 40% 2024/25 48%

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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered50
Families who put it first42
Of those, offered a place42 (100%)
Families who listed it at all63

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.6 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.8

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
1st highest of 11 state primary schools in Halstead.
Higher than 72% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
33.4% 21.7%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
3rd highest of 11 state primary schools in Halstead.
Higher than 61% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
3.6% 2.9%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
3rd highest of 11 state primary schools in Halstead.
Higher than 85% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
21.4% 13.9%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
1st highest of 11 state primary schools in Halstead.
Higher than 59% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
14.3% 12.2%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
11th lowest of 11 state primary schools in Halstead.
Lower than 12% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
6.8% 5.3%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
10th lowest of 11 state primary schools in Halstead.
Lower than 16% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
19.2% 13.0%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
7th lowest of 11 state primary schools in Halstead.
Lower than 34% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
2.2 3.3 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
7th lowest of 11 state primary schools in Halstead.
Lower than 24% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.6% 1.4% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
5th highest of 11 state primary schools in Halstead.
Higher than 69% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
22.2 21.9 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
9th highest of 11 state primary schools in Halstead.
Higher than 33% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
9.8 11.3 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 9 state primary schools in Halstead.
Higher than 67% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
17.6% 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 Richard de Clare Community Academy's Ofsted rating?

Richard de Clare Community Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 2 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 7 expected, and safeguarding was met.

How did Richard de Clare Community Academy do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 48% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 14 points below the England average of 62%.

Is Richard de Clare Community Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 42 families put Richard de Clare Community Academy as their first choice for 50 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 42 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.