Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Harlow
Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Harlow. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 22nd-highest of the 30 schools in Harlow with published results, and 9,982nd of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.2 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 108% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- 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
Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in detail
Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Matching Green C of E Primary School. My name is Andy Lorkins, and I am so proud to be the Headteacher of Matching Green Church of England Primary School. Our school is friendly, our children are welcoming, and our staff are passionate about ensuring that children feel safe and achieve their potential."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 73% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 17 families put Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice and 49 named it as one of their preferences, for 14 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 4 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School are Moreton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (2.4 miles, Good, 88% reading, 79% maths); Sheering Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (2.7 miles, Requires improvement, 75% reading, 81% maths); Hatfield Heath Primary School (2.8 miles, Good, 77% reading, 84% maths); and Dr Walker's CofE Primary School (3.2 miles).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School.
Moreton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolSheering Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolHatfield Heath Primary SchoolDr Walker's CofE Primary School
Who goes there
10.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 9 pupils (9.8%) received SEN support and 5 (5.4%) 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
Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School had 7 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 Sawbridgeworth Rail Station, about 4 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chequers Road (w-bound), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School issued 1 suspension, 1.1 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; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
10.9%
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 remained stable at around 75% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 80% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 75% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.0
Avg class size
10.0
Infant (KS1)
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Will you get a place at Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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
108%
Over capacity
92 pupils
85 places
7 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Harlow
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Harlow
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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
9
SEN Support
5
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
92
Total Pupils
43
Boys
49
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
13.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,093
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,804
Per pupil
£676k
Total funding
£21k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.1%
Overall absence
10.7%
Persistent absence
84
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
What are SATs results like at Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Of the pupils at Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% reached the expected standard in reading and 67% did so in maths.
What is Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2023.
What is the catchment area for Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School was full in 2025, at 108% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Classes at Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School average 23 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School has around 92 pupils on roll. 11% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
5.1% of sessions were missed at Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in 2024/25. 10.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is at Little Laver Road, Matching Green, Harlow, Essex, CM17 0QB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)