Grove Wood Primary School, Rayleigh
Grove Wood Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Rayleigh, part of Grove Wood Academy Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 4th-highest of the 8 schools in Rayleigh with published results, and 6,288th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2017)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Essex (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Grove Wood Primary School in detail
Grove Wood Primary School in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, cricket, tennis, multi-sports, dance, drama, choir, guitar and coding.
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 84% of Year 6 pupils at Grove Wood Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 74% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 90% in reading and 88% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Grove Wood Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 93 families put Grove Wood Primary School as their first choice and 195 named it as one of their preferences, for 90 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 5 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Grove Wood Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Grove Wood Primary School are Wyburns Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 77% reading, 58% maths); Edward Francis Primary School (1 mile, Good, 76% reading, 62% maths); Edwards Hall Primary School (1.1 miles, 90% reading, 93% maths); and Rayleigh Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 87% reading, 89% maths).
Grove Wood Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Wyburns Primary SchoolEdward Francis Primary SchoolEdwards Hall Primary SchoolRayleigh Primary School
The trust
Grove Wood Primary School is run by its own single-school academy trust.
What parents say
125 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Grove Wood Primary School (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 77% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (98%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (77%).
Who goes there
8.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 56 pupils (8.9%) received SEN support and 18 (2.9%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Rayleigh Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Clarence Road (sw-bound), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Grove Wood Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Grove Wood Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 0.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Grove Wood Primary School are The FitzWimarc School (1 mile), The Sweyne Park School (1.6 miles) and The Deanes (1.7 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2017, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Grove Wood Primary School excels at creating a happy, inclusive environment where all pupils thrive academically and personally. The school's well-designed curriculum helps pupils become articulate and knowledgeable, with many exceeding national standards by the time they leave. Pupils develop excellent behaviour and character through the school's SPARK values, supported by carefully planned enrichment activities that help them discover new talents and interests.
Key Strengths
- Strengthened curriculum that enables pupils to build knowledge securely and make connections between subjects and past learning
- Exceptional pupil behaviour supported by strong routines and high expectations from Reception onwards
- Comprehensive support for reading, with skilled phonics teaching and tailored help for pupils who need it
- Rich enrichment opportunities including clubs, trips and memorable activities that develop pupils' interests and talents
- Effective additional support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, with regular evaluation and adjustments
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Art club, gardening club, Greenpower racing car team, play leaders, school council, reading cabin, reading buddies programme
Grove Wood Primary School is a happy, vibrant school that puts pupils at the centre of everything and prepares them exceptionally well for their future lives. The school has high expectations for all pupils, including those with SEND, and many exceed national standards in reading, writing and mathematics.
At a Glance
8.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
125 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 90% to 84% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 88% to 74% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 91% to 79% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.0
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
18
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Grove Wood Primary School
Parent Questionnaire Feedback Letter June 2026
4 Jun 2026
YR1 Hyde Hall
11 May 2026
YR6 SATS Letter
11 May 2026
Outdoor concert
5 Jul 2018
From Grove Wood Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Grove Wood Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Grove Wood Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Grove Wood 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
- 1
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.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was 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 Grove Wood Primary School
Will you get a place at Grove Wood Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Grove Wood Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Grove Wood Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Grove Wood 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 Grove Wood Primary School for 2015 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Full
630 pupils
630 places
No spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Rayleigh
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rayleigh
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: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
56
SEN Support
18
EHC Plans
11.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
630
Total Pupils
316
Boys
314
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
29
Teachers
21.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,236
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£3389k
Total funding
£88k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.2%
Overall absence
5.3%
Persistent absence
549
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
Grove Wood Primary School
Questions parents ask about Grove Wood Primary School
What are SATs results like at Grove Wood Primary School?
Of the pupils at Grove Wood Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 84% reached the expected standard in reading and 74% did so in maths.
What is Grove Wood Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Grove Wood Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2017, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Grove Wood Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Grove Wood 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 Grove Wood Primary School?
Grove Wood Primary School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Grove Wood Primary School?
Classes at Grove Wood Primary School average 30 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Grove Wood Primary School?
Grove Wood Primary School has around 630 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Grove Wood Primary School?
4.2% of sessions were missed at Grove Wood Primary School in 2024/25. 5.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Grove Wood Primary School?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Grove Wood 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 Grove Wood 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. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was 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 Grove Wood Primary School?
Grove Wood Primary School is at Grove Road, Rayleigh, Essex, SS6 8UA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)