Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester

Ofsted's report card from its 3 March 2026 inspection grades Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 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. "Pupils' attendance is very high over time."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Pupils develop a strong sense of who they are."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils' attainment in assessments at the end of key stage 2 is generally above the national averages."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders are well informed about the quality of the curriculum and teaching in the school."

Early years - Expected standard. "The early years curriculum is well designed to build on what children already know."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Any additional needs that pupils may have are identified quickly and accurately."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's strengths."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that early years staff provide consistently effective support to children with gaps in their knowledge or skills, so that these children catch up with their peers"; "Leaders should ensure that staff consistently identify and correct misconceptions in pupils' writing, so that pupils develop the skills and knowledge that they need to write fluently and effectively".

In 2025, 94% of Year 6 pupils at Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 91% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 88% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 36 families put Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice and 93 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 6 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School are St Andrew's Church of England Primary Academy, Marks Tey (1.5 miles, 95% reading, 90% maths); Lakelands Primary School (1.7 miles, Outstanding); Stanway Primary School (2.1 miles, Good, 75% reading, 74% maths); and Stanway Fiveways Primary School (2.1 miles, Good, 77% reading, 73% maths).

Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

82 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (as of April 2026): 99% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (99%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (60%).

4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.5% 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 (10%).

In 2026, 19 pupils (9.4%) received SEN support and 5 (2.5%) 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 autism.

The nearest railway station is Marks Tey Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is C of E Primary School (adjacent), 250 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 10 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and bicycle theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).

In 2024/25, Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 1.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.