Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Bishop's Stortford

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Most pupils develop a secure knowledge of the early stages of reading, writing and mathematics."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Most pupils attend school regularly."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff have made improvements to the teaching of reading."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in the early years are welcomed into a caring and positive learning environment."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "This school is inclusive and committed to meeting the needs of all pupils."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a secure knowledge of the context, strengths and weaknesses of the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Governors and leaders share an ambition to prepare pupils well for the wider world."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers consistently provide activities that enable pupils to think more deeply and therefore produce their best work across all subjects and phases"; "Leaders should ensure that staff in the early years consistently model language and engage children in high-quality talk"; "Leaders should continue their work to improve communication with parents and carers about pupils' learning and behaviour".

In its own words: "We are a small, church school, in the heart of Birchanger Village (between Bishop's Stortford and Stansted), which really does celebrate our school ethos of 'Life in all its fullness' (John 10:10). We pride ourselves on our nurturing culture and knowing all our children and families."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, gardening and homework club.

The school runs after-school care.

Coming up: an open evening on Tuesday 3 November 2026 and an open evening on Tuesday 17 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 91% of Year 6 pupils at Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 73% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 71% in reading and 43% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 10 families put Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice and 28 named it as one of their preferences, for 10 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School are St Mary's CofE Foundation Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 80% reading, 85% maths); All Saints Church of England Primary School and Nursery, Bishop's Stortford (0.9 miles, Good, 81% reading, 77% maths); Summercroft Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 84% reading, 81% maths); and Avanti Meadows Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 67% reading, 70% maths).

Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

10.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 6 pupils (6.5%) received SEN support and 2 (2.2%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Stansted Mountfitchet Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (opposite), 240 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 60 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).

In 2024/25, Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School issued 1 suspension, 1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School are Birchwood High School (0.8 miles), Forest Hall School (0.9 miles), Hockerill Anglo-European College (1.3 miles) and The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College (1.5 miles).