William Read Primary Academy

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

Part of NORTHWICK PARK TRUST

Long Road, Canvey Island, SS8 0JE

01268 683053 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 3 December 2014, before conversion; confirmed 2025
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths53%England 62% · 2024/25
7th highest of 8 state primary schools in Canvey Island.
Higher than 22% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils189Room for 390 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 414 in 2019, 374 in 2021, 322 in 2022, 284 in 2023, 219 in 2024, 198 in 2025, 189 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.031 for 30 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 8 state primary schools in Canvey Island.
Higher than 79% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 3 December 2014. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).

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
Early yearsGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 24 April 2025: 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

32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Canvey Island comparisons use the 7 of its 10 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 3 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.

StatementThis schoolCanvey IslandEngland
My child is happy at this school
4th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Canvey Island.
Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 92% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
4th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Canvey Island.
Higher than 39% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 92% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 3rd highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Canvey Island.
Higher than 48% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
91% 84% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 13 parents whose child had been bullied
2nd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Canvey Island.
Higher than 67% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
62% 53% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 23 parents who had raised a concern
3rd highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Canvey Island.
Higher than 61% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
87% 76% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
4th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Canvey Island.
Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
88%said yes 82% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 16%). 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. Canvey Island figures pool parents at the Canvey Island 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.

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Results

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

32 pupils in this year group.

53% — 10 points below the Essex average, and 9 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 53% 63% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 0% 10% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 63% 77% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 72% 73% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 69% 76% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 103 106 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 101 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 54%This school 2023/24: 68%This school 2024/25: 53% This school England 62% 2022/23 54% 2023/24 68% 2024/25 53%

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 offered30
Families who put it first31
Of those, offered a place25 (81%)
Families who listed it at all104

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Essex

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolEssexEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 10 state primary schools in Canvey Island.
Higher than 72% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
33.8% 21.7%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 10 state primary schools in Canvey Island.
Higher than 81% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
5.0% 2.9%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
7th highest of 10 state primary schools in Canvey Island.
Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
12.6% 13.9%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Canvey Island.
Higher than 42% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
7.1% 12.2%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
9th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Canvey Island.
Lower than 25% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
6.0% 5.3%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
5th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Canvey Island.
Lower than 43% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
13.0% 13.0%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
5th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Canvey Island.
Lower than 51% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.0 3.3 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
6th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Canvey Island.
Lower than 39% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.0% 1.4% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
8th highest of 10 state primary schools in Canvey Island.
Higher than 62% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
21.6 21.9 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
9th highest of 10 state primary schools in Canvey Island.
Higher than 20% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
8.9 11.3 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
4th highest of 10 state primary schools in Canvey Island.
Higher than 68% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
18.2% 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is William Read Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

William Read Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 3 December 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 24 April 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.

How did William Read Primary Academy do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 53% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 9 points below the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend William Read Primary Academy?

88% of the 32 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend William Read Primary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is William Read Primary Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 31 families put William Read Primary Academy as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 25 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.