Purleigh Community Primary School, Chelmsford

From the headteacher's welcome: "Purleigh Primary School is situated in the village of Purleigh, south of the Blackwater Estuary in Essex. The towns of Maldon and South Woodham Ferrers are three and four miles away and there are several smaller villages that are situated around the school. It is these villages that form the school's priority admission area."

Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 24 March 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 89% of Year 6 pupils at Purleigh Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 83% in reading and 63% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 26 families put Purleigh Community Primary School as their first choice and 95 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Purleigh Community Primary School are Cold Norton Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 78% reading, 87% maths); Limebrook Primary School and Nursery (1.9 miles); Wentworth Primary School (2.4 miles, Good, 78% reading, 88% maths); and Maldon Primary School (2.9 miles, Good, 54% reading, 58% maths).

Purleigh Community Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

Purleigh Community Primary School is one of 8 schools run by Quantum Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.

9.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 31 pupils (15%) received SEN support and 5 (2.4%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is North Fambridge Rail Station, about 3 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Post Office (adjacent), 290 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).

In 2024/25, Purleigh Community Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.