Elmstead Primary School, Colchester
Elmstead Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Colchester, part of Penrose Learning Trust. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 42nd-highest of the 66 schools in Colchester with published results, and 8,057th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Essex (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Elmstead Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at Elmstead Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 63% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 70% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Elmstead Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 19 families put Elmstead Primary School as their first choice and 78 named it as one of their preferences, for 20 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Elmstead Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Elmstead Primary School are St George's Church of England Primary School, Great Bromley (1.7 miles, Good, 71% reading, 59% maths); Broomgrove Infant School (1.9 miles, Good); Broomgrove Junior School (1.9 miles, Good, 73% reading, 59% maths); and Millfields Primary School (1.9 miles, Outstanding, 84% reading, 78% maths).
Elmstead Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
St George's Church of England Primary School, Great BromleyBroomgrove Infant SchoolBroomgrove Junior SchoolMillfields Primary School
The trust
Elmstead Primary School is one of 9 schools run by Penrose Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
5.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (86%) and Mixed (6%).
Staffing
Elmstead Primary School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 26 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Alresford (Essex) Rail Station, about 2.2 miles away in a straight line.
1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Oatlands (adjacent), 370 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 19 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Elmstead Primary School issued 39 suspensions, 18.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards: met
Elmstead Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2023. Before that, as Elmstead Primary School (URN 115260), it was rated Good in November 2014.
At a Glance
17.1%
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 improved from 70% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 67% to 63% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 69% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.1
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
30.5
KS2
7
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Elmstead Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Elmstead Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Elmstead Primary School is in Essex; for families living there:
- Essex's school travel policy: Education Transport Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 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 Elmstead Primary School
Will you get a place at Elmstead Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Elmstead Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Elmstead Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Elmstead Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Essex, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Elmstead Primary School for 2024 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Essex 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
101%
Over capacity
211 pupils
208 places
3 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Colchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Colchester
Across Essex council
Places available
17,932
Applications
15,737
Got 1st preference
90.3%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All primary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
24
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
15.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
211
Total Pupils
109
Boys
102
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
26.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£43,210
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,197
Per pupil
£1201k
Total funding
£50k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.5%
Overall absence
12.8%
Persistent absence
187
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Elmstead Primary School
What are SATs results like at Elmstead Primary School?
Of the pupils at Elmstead Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 88% reached the expected standard in reading and 63% did so in maths.
What is Elmstead Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Elmstead Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2023. Before that, as Elmstead Primary School (URN 115260), it was rated Good in November 2014.
What is the catchment area for Elmstead Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Elmstead Primary School is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Elmstead Primary School?
Elmstead Primary School was full in 2025, at 101% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Elmstead Primary School?
Classes at Elmstead Primary School average 30.1 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 Elmstead Primary School?
Elmstead Primary School has around 211 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Elmstead Primary School?
5.5% of sessions were missed at Elmstead Primary School in 2024/25. 12.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Elmstead Primary School?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Elmstead 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.
How many road collisions happen near Elmstead Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Elmstead Primary School?
Elmstead Primary School is at Elmcroft, Holly Way, Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex, CO7 7YQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)