Christchurch Church of England Primary School, Chelmsford

Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades Christchurch Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 4 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise high attendance."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a coherent curriculum across all areas of learning."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear approach to identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have introduced new ways to promote pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement is inconsistent over time."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "There are inconsistencies in the subject knowledge of staff."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders are not as far along with school improvement as they need to be."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders need to ensure that staff understand how to use checks on pupils' learning to adapt the curriculum to close pupils' gaps in knowledge"; "Leaders need to ensure that there is a consistent and effective approach to the teaching of writing"; "Leaders need to ensure that they develop staff's subject knowledge, so they are more consistently able to help pupils make connections between existing and new knowledge"; "Leaders, including those responsible for governance, need to ensure that they evaluate the impact of newly introduced initiatives, so they can identify where to target future school improvement priorities"; "Leaders need to ensure that they develop and improve their approaches to communicating with parents".

In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at Christchurch Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 33% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 70% in reading and 48% 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 Christchurch Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 22 named it as one of their preferences, for 19 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Christchurch Church of England Primary School are Maylandsea Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 80% reading, 76% maths); Cold Norton Primary School (2.4 miles, Good, 78% reading, 87% maths); Purleigh Community Primary School (3.2 miles, Good, 89% reading, 81% maths); and Canewdon Church of England Primary School (3.9 miles, 71% reading, 76% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Christchurch Church of England Primary School.

Christchurch Church of England Primary School is one of 21 schools run by The Diocese of Chelmsford Vine Schools Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 49% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

31 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Christchurch Church of England Primary School (as of April 2026): 39% would recommend the school, 65% say their child is happy there and 8% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (65%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (8%).

4.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 16 pupils (14.7%) received SEN support and 2 (1.8%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Althorne Rail Station, about 2 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (outside), 50 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 14 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).

In 2024/25, Christchurch Church of England Primary School issued 13 suspensions, 10.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.