Abacus Primary School, Wickford
Abacus Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Wickford. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 7 schools in Wickford with published results, and 3,246th of 14,452 across England. It was 97% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Essex (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Abacus Primary School in detail
Abacus Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We recognise that starting school is an important time for the whole family and plan many opportunities throughout the year for parents and carers to come into school. These include family consultations, family read time, family assemblies, Christmas productions, work shares and family lunches."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, gymnastics and book club.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at Abacus Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (92% in reading, 80% in maths).
Getting a place at Abacus Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 59 families put Abacus Primary School as their first choice and 153 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Abacus Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Abacus Primary School are Oakfield Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 85% reading, 78% maths); North Crescent Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 73% reading, 77% maths); The Wickford Church of England School (1 mile, Outstanding); and Hilltop Infant School (1 mile, Outstanding).
Abacus Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.
Oakfield Primary SchoolNorth Crescent Primary SchoolThe Wickford Church of England SchoolHilltop Infant School
Who goes there
7.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 90 pupils (21.8%) received SEN support and 27 (6.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Wickford Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tesco Store (outside), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Abacus Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Abacus Primary School issued 43 suspensions, 10.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Abacus Primary School are Beauchamps High School (0.9 miles) and Harris Academy Wickford (1.2 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from November 2016, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2016 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
7.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 92% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 80% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 68% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.5
Avg class size
29.5
Infant (KS1)
29.6
KS2
11
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Abacus Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Abacus Primary School.
- Crafty Katie LtdAt the school · Not yet graded
- KellyCare Childcare Services Before and After School ClubAt the school · Not yet graded
- Premier - Wickford Hub760m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Abacus Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Abacus Primary School is in Essex; for families living there:
- Essex's school travel policy: Education Transport Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Abacus Primary School
Will you get a place at Abacus Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Abacus Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Abacus Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Abacus Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Essex, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Abacus Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Essex got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
97%
Near capacity
409 pupils
420 places
11 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Wickford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wickford
Across Essex council
Places available
17,932
Applications
15,737
Got 1st preference
90.3%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All primary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
90
SEN Support
27
EHC Plans
28.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
413
Total Pupils
215
Boys
198
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
24
Teachers
17.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,120
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,118
Per pupil
£2289k
Total funding
£39k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.2%
Overall absence
10.1%
Persistent absence
368
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Abacus Primary School
Questions parents ask about Abacus Primary School
What are SATs results like at Abacus Primary School?
Of the pupils at Abacus Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Abacus Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Abacus Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Abacus Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Abacus Primary School is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Abacus Primary School?
Abacus Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Abacus Primary School?
Classes at Abacus Primary School average 29.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Abacus Primary School?
Abacus Primary School has around 413 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Abacus Primary School?
5.2% of sessions were missed at Abacus Primary School in 2024/25. 10.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Abacus Primary School?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Abacus Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Abacus Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs at the school: Crafty Katie Ltd (registered, not yet graded) and KellyCare Childcare Services Before and After School Club (registered, not yet graded). There is another within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Abacus Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Abacus Primary School?
Abacus Primary School is at Tresco Way, The Wick, Wickford, Essex, SS12 9GJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)