Highwood Primary School, Chelmsford
Highwood Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Chelmsford. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2022. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 44th-highest of the 46 schools in Chelmsford with published results, and 13,418th of 14,452 across England. It was 94% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2022)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below 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
Highwood Primary School in detail
Highwood Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a small friendly village school situated in the hamlet of Highwood just outside Chelmsford. At Highwood we provide an exciting, broad and engaging curriculum which encourages our children to become confident, resilient, life-long learners. We aim high wanting all our children to exceed expectations and attain the very best results they can, academically, creatively and personally."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 63% of Year 6 pupils at Highwood Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 50% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Highwood Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 3 families put Highwood Primary School as their first choice and 27 named it as one of their preferences, for 8 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 Highwood Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Highwood Primary School are Margaretting Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (2.2 miles, Good, 80% reading, 80% maths); Writtle Infant School (2.4 miles); Writtle Junior School (2.4 miles); and Ingatestone Infant School (2.5 miles).
Margaretting Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolWrittle Infant SchoolWrittle Junior SchoolIngatestone Infant School
Who goes there
1.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 7 pupils (10.6%) received SEN support and 3 (4.5%) 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.
Staffing
Highwood Primary School had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Ingatestone Rail Station, about 3 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (outside), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).
Suspensions and exclusions
Highwood Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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
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 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2022 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
27.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2024/25 academic year
Class Sizes
22.0
Avg class size
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Highwood Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Highwood Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Highwood 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)
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 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 Highwood Primary School
Will you get a place at Highwood Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Highwood Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Highwood Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Highwood 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 Highwood 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
94%
Near capacity
66 pupils
70 places
4 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Chelmsford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Chelmsford
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(10)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
7
SEN Support
3
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
66
Total Pupils
27
Boys
39
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
13.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,669
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,238
Per pupil
£537k
Total funding
£26k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.0%
Overall absence
30.5%
Persistent absence
59
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Highwood Primary School
What are SATs results like at Highwood Primary School?
Of the pupils at Highwood Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 63% reached the expected standard in reading and 50% did so in maths.
What is Highwood Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Highwood Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2022.
What is the catchment area for Highwood Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Highwood 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 Highwood Primary School?
Highwood Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 94% of its 70 places.
How big are the classes at Highwood Primary School?
Classes at Highwood Primary School average 22 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Highwood Primary School?
Highwood Primary School has around 66 pupils on roll. 27% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Highwood Primary School?
9% of sessions were missed at Highwood Primary School in 2024/25. 30.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Highwood Primary School?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Highwood 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 Highwood 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 Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Highwood Primary School?
Highwood Primary School is at Loves Green, Highwood, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3QH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)