East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Nr Colchester
East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Nr Colchester. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 26th-highest of the 225 schools in Suffolk with published results, and 2,629th of 14,452 across England. It was 97% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Suffolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in detail
East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Nestled in the beautiful village of East Bergholt, in the heart of Constable Country, our school offers children a wonderful place to learn, grow and flourish. With extensive grounds and strong links with our local community, including St Mary's Church, we are proud to be a welcoming and nurturing village school."
Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 11 November 2026 at 10.45am, an open day on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at 9am and an open day on Monday 7 December 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Suffolk
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils at East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 87% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Suffolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 88% in reading and 77% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 34 families put East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice and 68 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 4 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School are Stratford St Mary Primary School (1.6 miles, Good, 93% reading, 80% maths); Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (1.6 miles, Good, 86% reading, 93% maths); Capel St Mary Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (2.4 miles, Good, 87% reading, 68% maths); and Brooklands Primary School (2.7 miles, Good, 85% reading, 85% maths).
East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Stratford St Mary Primary SchoolDedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolCapel St Mary Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolBrooklands Primary School
Who goes there
10.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (87%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 17 pupils (8.7%) received SEN support and 9 (4.6%) 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.
Staffing
East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School had 15 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Manningtree Rail Station, about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Elm Road (adjacent), 130 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 4 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other theft and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Suffolk (32).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School issued 5 suspensions, 2.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
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; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
The school is a harmonious place to be. Pupils value the recent changes that have been made to help enable this. They are proud of their school. They feel a real sense of it being one united community.
Pupils feel valued and enjoy coming to school. They are happy and safe due to the care and support they receive from the adults. Pupils know that staff will help to sort out any concerns and worries they might have. Staff and governors have created a nurturing atmosphere. Pupils are enthusiastic, kind and respectful. They have a positive attitude to learning. They behave well in lessons and around the school.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The curriculum is broad and balanced. In most subjects, the curriculum is well constructed and thought through. However, in a small number of subjects, pupils' understanding and knowledge of the wider world do not develop effectively enough. Teachers do not always provide enough opportunities for pupils to extend their learning. This is because, sometimes, teachers do not identify opportunities to develop the depth of pupils' knowledge.
In most subjects, teachers carefully consider what pupils need to learn. They support pupils to build on their prior knowledge. They identify and revisit the important content effectively. For example, in art, teachers develop pupils' knowledge of drawing skills and techniques. They use a variety of approaches to assess pupils' understanding and revisit learning where pupils need it.
From Ofsted's July 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
10.8%
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 remained stable at around 87% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 77% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
31.0
Avg class size
31.0
KS2
1
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Fantastic Teamwork on the Netball Court
19 Jun 2026
U11 Boys’ Futsal Competition
18 Jun 2026
Netball Success at Festival
22 May 2026
Samba Beats Take Over the School
8 May 2026
David Attenborough’s 100th Birthday
8 May 2026
Pond Life Party in Team One
6 May 2026
From East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Term dates
East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a voluntary controlled school, so its term dates are set by Suffolk. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is in Suffolk; for families living there:
Apply to Suffolk for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 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 East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Will you get a place at East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Suffolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Suffolk 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
203 pupils
210 places
7 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Nr Colchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Nr Colchester
Across Suffolk council
Places available
8,806
Applications
6,492
Got 1st preference
94.9%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Suffolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
17
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
13.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
195
Total Pupils
100
Boys
95
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
13.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,160
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,075
Per pupil
£1106k
Total funding
£30k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.5%
Overall absence
10.4%
Persistent absence
173
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
East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Questions parents ask about East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
What are SATs results like at East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Of the pupils at East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 87% reached the expected standard in reading and 87% did so in maths.
What is East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024.
What is the catchment area for East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is oversubscribed, Suffolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Classes at East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School average 31 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School has around 195 pupils on roll. 11% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
4.5% of sessions were missed at East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in 2024/25. 10.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Apply through Suffolk's coordinated admissions process, naming East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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.
What are East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's term dates?
East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a voluntary controlled school, so its term dates are set by Suffolk. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 schools, same distance and years).
Where is East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
East Bergholt Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is at School Lane, East Bergholt, Nr Colchester, Suffolk, CO7 6SW.
Sources: Suffolk term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)