Heycroft Primary School, LEIGH-on-SEA

Ofsted's report card from its 9 September 2026 inspection grades Heycroft 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.

Early years - Strong standard. "Pupils in the early years benefit from a strong start that enables them to flourish and prepares them for the next stage of their development."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders, the trust and those responsible for governance have identified and prioritised areas of the school to improve and develop."

Achievement - Expected standard. "On the whole, pupils achieve well from their starting points."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils are proud to attend this school, and, consequently, they attend well."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The curriculum is broad, well balanced and logically sequenced."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "There is an inclusive culture of care at Heycroft."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils are proud of their school and what it means for the local community."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should refine assessment systems in foundation subjects so that teachers can identify pupils' needs more precisely and tailor their teaching accordingly".

In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at Heycroft Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 63% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 74% in Southend-on-Sea and 77% and 75% across England.

For September 2026 entry, 11 families put Heycroft Primary School as their first choice and 52 named it as one of their preferences, for 12 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Heycroft Primary School are Eastwood Primary School & Nursery (0.3 miles); Edwards Hall Primary School (0.7 miles, 90% reading, 93% maths); Blenheim Primary School (0.9 miles, Outstanding, 75% reading, 81% maths); and Fairways Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 75% reading, 80% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Heycroft Primary School.

Heycroft Primary School is one of 9 schools run by South East Essex Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 60% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

6.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (84%), Mixed (6%) and Asian (5%).

In 2026, 40 pupils (11.5%) received SEN support and 8 (2.3%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Southend Airport Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Parkway Close (adjacent), 200 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Heycroft Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 94 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and drug offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Southend-on-Sea (318).

In 2024/25, Heycroft Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Heycroft Primary School are The Eastwood Academy (0.4 miles), St Thomas More High School (1.1 miles), Westcliff High School for Girls (1.2 miles) and Westcliff High School for Boys Academy (1.2 miles).