SchoolScoresSt Lawrence CofE Primary School, Rowhedge
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Rectory Road, Rowhedge, Colchester, CO5 7HR
01206 728517 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 November 2014.
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 | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 20 November 2024: 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
56 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Colchester comparisons use the 37 of its 73 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 36 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 | Colchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 18th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 54% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 15th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 26th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 90% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 12 parents whose child had been bullied 11th highest of 27 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 57% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 58% | 54% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 41 parents who had raised a concern Joint 17th highest of 34 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 55% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 83% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 14 parents of children with SEND 3rd highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 77% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 68% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 14th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93%said yes | 90% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 25%). 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. Colchester figures pool parents at the Colchester 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
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.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 63% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 10% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 70% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 73% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 87% | 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. | 107 | 105 | 105 |
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 offered | 47 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 45 |
| Of those, offered a place | 45 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 74 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 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.
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 29th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 47% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.2% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 62nd highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 15% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 12th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 84% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.1% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 51st highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 23% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.1% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 39th lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 42% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.3% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 42nd lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 47% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 12.2% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. 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 73 state primary schools in Colchester. 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 Joint 50th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 49% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.5 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 48th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 51% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.8 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 60th highest of 71 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 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
- Fingringhoe CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Broomgrove Infant School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Broomgrove Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Old Heath Community Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 4 expected, 2 needs attention · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Millfields Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cherry Tree Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kendall CofE Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Monkwick Infant and Nursery School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025
- Monkwick Junior School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- St George's School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Lawrence CofE Primary School, Rowhedge's Ofsted rating?
St Lawrence CofE Primary School, Rowhedge was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 November 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 20 November 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did St Lawrence CofE Primary School, Rowhedge 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 St Lawrence CofE Primary School, Rowhedge?
93% of the 56 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Lawrence CofE Primary School, Rowhedge to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Lawrence CofE Primary School, Rowhedge oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 45 families put St Lawrence CofE Primary School, Rowhedge as their first choice for 47 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 45 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 115077.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.