SchoolScoresWaltham Holy Cross Primary Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of NET ACADEMIES TRUST
Quendon Drive, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1LG
01992 713191 · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 26 March 2024.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
177 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Waltham Abbey comparisons use the 3 of its 5 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 2 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 | Waltham Abbey | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Abbey. Higher than 35% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 92% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Abbey. Higher than 34% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 92% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Abbey. Higher than 34% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 85% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 63 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 118th highest of 167 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 22% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 43% | – | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 124 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Abbey. Higher than 27% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 75% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Abbey. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 88% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Waltham Abbey figures pool parents at the Waltham Abbey 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
85 pupils in this year group.
73% — 10 points above the Essex average, and 11 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 73% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 11% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 84% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 82% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 82% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 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 | 81 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 79 |
| Of those, offered a place | 79 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 107 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 7 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 5 state primary schools in Waltham Abbey. Higher than 64% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 28.8% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 5 state primary schools in Waltham Abbey. Higher than 46% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 5 state primary schools in Waltham Abbey. Higher than 14% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.9% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 5 state primary schools in Waltham Abbey. Higher than 79% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 31.8% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 5 state primary schools in Waltham Abbey. Lower than 80% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 5 state primary schools in Waltham Abbey. Lower than 61% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.0% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 1st lowest of 5 state primary schools in Waltham Abbey. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.2 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 1st lowest of 5 state primary schools in Waltham Abbey. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.2% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 5 state primary schools in Waltham Abbey. Higher than 52% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.8 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 5 state primary schools in Waltham Abbey. Higher than 79% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.6 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 5 state primary schools in Waltham Abbey. Higher than 32% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 8.2% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Leverton Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 42% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hillhouse CofE Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holdbrook Primary School and Nursery 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Upshire Primary Foundation School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 37% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Wx) 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), improved significantly 2024 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Four Swannes Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Downfield Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 22% met expected standard (KS2)
- Keys Meadow Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Trinity CofE Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Prince of Wales Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 strong, 3 expected · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Waltham Holy Cross Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Waltham Holy Cross Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 26 March 2024.
How did Waltham Holy Cross Primary Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 73% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 11 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Waltham Holy Cross Primary Academy?
88% of the 177 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Waltham Holy Cross Primary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Waltham Holy Cross Primary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 79 families put Waltham Holy Cross Primary Academy as their first choice for 81 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 79 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 147265.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 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.