Highfields Primary School, Manningtree
Highfields Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Manningtree. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2022 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 137th-highest of the 388 schools in Essex with published results, and 4,824th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.3 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 102% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2016)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
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
Highfields Primary School in detail
Highfields Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Whether you're a current pupil or parent, a former member of our school community, or simply browsing - it's lovely to have you here. Highfields is a vibrant and inclusive primary school serving our local community. We're proud to offer a warm, supportive environment where every child is encouraged to grow, succeed, and feel a strong sense of belonging."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, tennis, dance, drama, choir, eco club, art and Spanish.
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils at Highfields Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 91% in reading and 95% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Highfields Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 58 families put Highfields Primary School as their first choice and 106 named it as one of their preferences, for 45 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 13 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Highfields Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Highfields Primary School are Lawford Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 88% reading, 91% maths); Brooklands Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 85% reading, 85% maths); Stourview Church of England Primary Academy (1.5 miles); and Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (2.5 miles, Good, 86% reading, 93% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Highfields Primary School.
Lawford Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolBrooklands Primary SchoolStourview Church of England Primary AcademyDedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Who goes there
6.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Manningtree Rail Station, about 950 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sports Centre (outside), 220 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 29 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, other theft and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Highfields Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.3 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 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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from July 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its July 2016 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
6.3%
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 declined from 91% to 81% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 95% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 85% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.9
Avg class size
27.0
Infant (KS1)
30.8
KS2
10
Total classes
4 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Highfields Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Highfields Primary School.
- Premier Education WAC - Lawford800m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Highfields Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Highfields 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
- 9
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 4 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
1 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 Highfields Primary School
Will you get a place at Highfields Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Highfields Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Highfields Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Highfields 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 Highfields Primary School for 2014 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
102%
Over capacity
322 pupils
315 places
7 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Manningtree
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Manningtree
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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
37
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
14.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
320
Total Pupils
156
Boys
164
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
17.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,710
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,887
Per pupil
£1999k
Total funding
£30k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.0%
Overall absence
8.7%
Persistent absence
277
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
Highfields Primary School
Questions parents ask about Highfields Primary School
What are SATs results like at Highfields Primary School?
Of the pupils at Highfields Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 81% reached the expected standard in reading and 83% did so in maths.
What is Highfields Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Highfields Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2016, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Highfields Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Highfields 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 Highfields Primary School?
Highfields Primary School was full in 2025, at 102% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Highfields Primary School?
Classes at Highfields Primary School average 28.9 pupils (2025/26). 4 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Highfields Primary School?
Highfields Primary School has around 320 pupils on roll. 6% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Highfields Primary School?
5% of sessions were missed at Highfields Primary School in 2024/25. 8.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Highfields Primary School?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Highfields 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.
Does Highfields Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Highfields Primary School: Premier Education WAC - Lawford (800m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Highfields Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 4 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 1 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 Highfields Primary School?
Highfields Primary School is at Colchester Road, Lawford, Manningtree, Essex, CO11 2BN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)