Sir Martin Frobisher Academy, Clacton-on-Sea

Requires Improvement
Primary
Academy sponsor led
Mixed
Ages 411

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~787m)Possible (~1.1km)Unlikely (~1.5km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Simon Wood
Pupils:171 / 270 capacity
LA:Essex
Phone:01255427073
Website:smfa.org.uk
Address:Frobisher Drive, Jaywick, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 2QH
Trust:REACH2 ACADEMY TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2016

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 1 year ago
-

Overall

Good

Quality of Education

Good

Behaviour & Attitudes

Outstanding

Personal Development

Outstanding

Leadership & Management

Outstanding

Early Years

Inspected 8 July 2025View full report
URN:143121
UKPRN:10057567
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Clacton
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Sir Martin Frobisher Academy creates a place where children are happy, confident learners with high ambitions. The school excels at supporting all pupils, including those with additional needs, through thoughtfully planned lessons and exceptional pastoral care. Beyond academics, the school provides rich experiences like trips, themed days, and special initiatives that build character, resilience, and inspire pupils to explore the world around them.

Key Strengths

  • Strong focus on early reading with regular, tailored intervention that helps pupils achieve well
  • Exceptional personal development through enrichment activities, trips, and the '11 before 11' initiative
  • Excellent support for pupils with SEND, who are valued and empowered to thrive through thoughtful curriculum adaptations
  • Outstanding early years provision that builds strong foundations for children's education
  • Consistently positive pupil behaviour and attitudes, with pupils showing mutual respect and resilience

Areas for Improvement

  • Teachers do not always make explicit connections between new learning and pupils' prior knowledge, which can create gaps in understanding and make it harder for pupils to recall and build on what they have learned

Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with strong safeguarding culture prioritizing pupils' interests.

Extracurricular Activities

School trips, themed days, clubs, community-based events, '11 before 11' initiative, outdoor learning

Sir Martin Frobisher Academy is a primary school where pupils are encouraged to dream big and rise to high expectations. The school has made remarkable progress since its previous inspection, with pupils thriving academically and developing strong character.

At a Glance

70.2%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

What Parents Think

23 responses
Would recommend74%
Child is happy78%
Well taught83%
Good progress83%
Feels safe83%
Well behaved65%
Bullying dealt with22%
Kept informed65%
Handles concerns61%
Wider development65%

Source: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading-7ppMaths+4ppWriting+4pp

Reading has declined from 83% to 76%. Maths has improved from 80% to 84%. Writing has improved from 80% to 84%.

Class Sizes

23.4

Avg class size

25.0

Infant (KS1)

22.8

KS2

7

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Marlowe Road (opp)
121m · 2 min walk
Spencer Way (adj)
204m · 3 min walk
Tyndale Drive (opp)
209m · 3 min walk
Millers Barn (o/s)
312m · 5 min walk
Park Square West (N-bound)
410m · 7 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

63%

Available places

171 pupils

270 capacity

99 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Clacton-on-Sea

High pressure
New homes approved:979
Projected new pupils:245

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Clacton-on-Sea

Admissions Demand - Essex

Low demand0.87x oversubscription

Places available

17,913

Applications

15,619

Got 1st preference

90.3%

Got preferred school

98.4%

Primary admissions across Essex (2025/26)

Inspection History(4)

8 July 2025
Quality of EducationGood
Behaviour & AttitudesGood
Personal DevelopmentOutstanding
Leadership & ManagementOutstanding
Early YearsOutstanding
8 January 2025
6 June 2023
Requires ImprovementReport
Quality of EducationRequires Improvement
Behaviour & AttitudesGood
Personal DevelopmentGood
Leadership & ManagementGood
Early YearsGood

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

10.17698%

Overall absence

36.21622%

Persistent absence

185

Enrolments

Authorised4.27665%
Unauthorised5.90032%
Persistent (10%+)36.21622%
Severe (50%+)3.78378%

Absence trend

6.48602%
18/19
10.35623%
20/21
13.53467%
21/22
11.00296%
22/23
10.29782%
23/24
10.17698%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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