Clavering Primary School, Saffron Walden

Ofsted's report card from its 9 September 2026 inspection grades Clavering Primary School on 7 areas: 3 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have high expectations of pupils' attendance."

Early years - Strong standard. "The provision in the early years is of a very high quality."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's carefully considered personal development programme reflects the needs of the school community."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Typically, pupils achieve well."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have ensured that there is a broad, balanced and well-sequenced curriculum for pupils to learn throughout the school."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders know pupils well."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders are ambitious for the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to embed approaches to ensure that pupils' misconceptions are addressed quickly so that all pupils can make progress rapidly"; "Leaders should continue their work to develop staff's expertise in adapting learning to ensure that all pupils consistently achieve as well as they can across the curriculum".

In 2025, 89% of Year 6 pupils at Clavering Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 89% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 78% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 31 families put Clavering Primary School as their first choice and 46 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Clavering Primary School are Rickling Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (2.6 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); Newport Primary School (3 miles, Good, 37% reading, 37% maths); Manuden Primary School (3.4 miles, Good, 87% reading, 87% maths); and Furneux Pelham Church of England School (3.4 miles, Good, 83% reading, 83% maths).

Clavering Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

3.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 34 pupils (19%) received SEN support and 2 (1.1%) 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.

Clavering Primary School had 12 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Newport (Essex) Rail Station, about 3.3 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Brent Pelham Corner (e-bound), 250 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).

In 2024/25, Clavering Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.