Ongar Primary School, Ongar
Ongar Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Ongar, part of Bridge Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 201st-highest of the 388 schools in Essex with published results, and 7,071st of 14,452 across England. It was 93% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 75 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Essex (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
Ongar Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils at Ongar 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 82% in reading and 82% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Ongar Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 16 families put Ongar Primary School as their first choice and 31 named it as one of their preferences, for 27 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Ongar Primary School are Chipping Ongar Primary School (1 mile, Good, 75% reading, 79% maths); High Ongar Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 72% reading, 72% maths); Moreton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (2 miles, Good, 88% reading, 79% maths); and Dr Walker's CofE Primary School (2.2 miles).
Ongar Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Chipping Ongar Primary SchoolHigh Ongar Primary SchoolMoreton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolDr Walker's CofE Primary School
The trust
Ongar Primary School is one of 11 schools run by Bridge Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 58% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
2.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (87%) and Mixed (10%).
In 2026, 40 pupils (25.3%) received SEN support and 4 (2.5%) 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
Ongar Primary School had 11 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Ongar Primary School.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Aukingford Gardens (opposite), 130 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 50 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Ongar Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 1.7 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 multi-academy trust performance data; 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from April 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 Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils try hard to embody the school's three rights: the right to safety, the right to respect and the right to learn. Following these every day helps pupils to achieve well, both in and out of the classroom.
The school works hard to keep pupils safe, tenaciously securing suitable support. Pupils benefit greatly from how the school grounds allow for 'risky' play. Pupils can build dens, climb trees or haul themselves onto large tyres. Unsurprisingly, pupils highlight outdoor learning and play as a strength at their school.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Under the watchful eye of leaders who govern the school, the school has continued to improve over recent years. There is a patient, welcoming feel that fills the school. It ensures that staff feel comfortable approaching leaders to ask questions, give suggestions or request support. Training opportunities, such as the trust's subject leader network meetings, provide helpful guidance. Staff value these, seeing school as a place where they receive support to thrive.
The school adopts a systematic approach to the teaching of reading. Training for staff ensures they are well versed, for example, in the sounds that letters make. Staff prioritise the school's four features of fluent reading. This helps pupils to read with expression as they grow older. Like all pupils, weaker readers receive books containing words they can read. This, along with guidance from staff, helps them to become increasingly confident.
From Ofsted's September 2023 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its April 2016 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
30.4%
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 81% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 82% to 74% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 77% to 85% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.6
Avg class size
20.7
Infant (KS1)
24.0
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Ongar Primary School
Nurseries
Bright Stars Pre-School is at Ongar Primary School. Ofsted, 15 March 2023: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective.
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to Ongar Primary School, with their latest published grades:
- Truly Scrumptious Early Years Nursery (Ongar) - Day nursery, 0.4 milesOfsted, 6 July 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Puzzlez Playschool Ltd - Day nursery, 0.6 milesOfsted report card, 9 July 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
- Step Start Nurseries Fyfield - Day nursery, 1.0 milesOfsted, 7 August 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Ongar Pre-School, Breakfast & After School Club - Day nursery, 1.2 milesOfsted, 9 July 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- ABC Nursery & Pre School Ltd - Day nursery, 1.5 milesOfsted, 31 August 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ongar Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ongar 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
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight.
The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Ongar Primary School
Will you get a place at Ongar Primary School?
For 2026 entry it had 16 first choices for 27 places. The report sets your home postcode against these figures.
£9.99 once (inc. VAT; £19.99 for up to three schools), or Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time. What's in the report
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
93%
Near capacity
175 pupils
189 places
14 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
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
Future places in the local planning area
DfE estimates the Epping Forest Primary C: Northeast (Ongar) planning area (Essex) will have 128 spare primary places in 2027/28.
Source: Department for Education, School capacity: Academic year 2024/25 (published 19 March 2026), estimates of future school place demand by planning area. Council pupil forecasts against reported places, counting places councils and DfE plan to add or remove; rounded to whole places. Explore Education Statistics
Inspection History(2)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
40
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
27.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
158
Total Pupils
98
Boys
60
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
14.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,615
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,869
Per pupil
£1169k
Total funding
£86k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.7%
Overall absence
24.8%
Persistent absence
153
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
Ongar Primary School
Questions parents ask about Ongar Primary School
What are SATs results like at Ongar Primary School?
Of the pupils at Ongar Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 81% reached the expected standard in reading and 74% did so in maths.
What is Ongar Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ongar Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2023, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in April 2016, it was rated Good.
Is it hard to get a place at Ongar Primary School?
Ongar Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 93% of its 189 places.
How big are the classes at Ongar Primary School?
Classes at Ongar Primary School average 22.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Ongar Primary School?
Ongar Primary School has around 158 pupils on roll. 30% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ongar Primary School?
7.7% of sessions were missed at Ongar Primary School in 2024/25. 24.8% of pupils were persistently absent.
How many road collisions happen near Ongar Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight. The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ongar Primary School?
Ongar Primary School is at Milton Crescent, Shelley, Ongar, Essex, CM5 0FF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)