Somers Heath Primary School, South Ockendon

Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~594m)Possible (~848m)Unlikely (~1.1km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Martin Curtis
Pupils:415 / 498 capacity
LA:Thurrock
Phone:01708853397
Address:Foyle Drive, South Ockendon, RM15 5LX
Trust:CATALYST ACADEMIES TRUST
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 June 2017

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 6 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Strong Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Early Years
Expected Standard
Inspected 10 March 2026View full report
URN:144448
UKPRN:10063750
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Thurrock
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Somers Heath is a caring school where staff go out of their way to make learning fun and accessible for every child. Pupils achieve well, especially by the end of Year 6, and benefit from a rich curriculum that includes trips to places like the Tower of London. Staff build trusting relationships with pupils and sort out any problems quickly, so children feel safe and happy to come to school.

Key Strengths

  • Strong personal development programme covering relationships, online safety, finance and understanding of different cultures
  • Above national average outcomes in end of Key Stage 2 tests, with improving phonics results
  • Excellent behaviour and attendance, with calm, respectful pupils and effective staff support
  • Inclusive approach ensuring all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, can access every activity
  • Warm, engaging early years environment with reading, writing and mathematics at its heart

Areas for Improvement

  • Handwriting teaching is not consistently effective across the school, meaning some pupils do not develop handwriting skills as well as they should
  • Some targets for pupils with special educational needs lack precision and do not clearly show when pupils will achieve them
  • Pupils' recall of the wider curriculum varies, with better recall of recent topics than previous ones
  • A few staff members feel they have too much work to manage

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Brazil Day, gym trail sessions, school council activities, Year 6 activities week, trips including Tower of London and seaside visits

Somers Heath Primary School is a well-led primary school where pupils enjoy coming to school and benefit from a broad, ambitious curriculum. The school achieves above national average outcomes at the end of Key Stage 2 and maintains strong attendance and behaviour standards.

At a Glance

28.4%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+6ppMaths+2ppWriting-6pp

Reading has improved from 83% to 89%. Maths has remained stable at around 87%. Writing has declined from 87% to 81%.

Class Sizes

27.4

Avg class size

28.3

Infant (KS1)

26.6

KS2

16

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Garron Lane (Southbound)
114m · 2 min walk
Fortin Way (N-bound)
232m · 4 min walk
Gatehope Drive (N-bound)
288m · 5 min walk
Fairham Avenue (Northbound)
332m · 5 min walk
Daiglen Drive (E-bound)
357m · 6 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

83%

Available places

415 pupils

498 capacity

83 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - South Ockendon

Medium pressure
New homes approved:361
Projected new pupils:90

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for South Ockendon

Admissions Demand - Thurrock

Low demand0.87x oversubscription

Places available

2,559

Applications

2,223

Got 1st preference

91.6%

Got preferred school

98.8%

Primary admissions across Thurrock (2025/26)

Inspection History(4)

10 March 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
30 November 2021
6 June 2017

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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

5.63849%

Overall absence

17%

Persistent absence

400

Enrolments

Authorised3.14938%
Unauthorised2.48911%
Persistent (10%+)17%
Severe (50%+)3%

Absence trend

4.20993%
18/19
3.30209%
20/21
6.28505%
21/22
6.24805%
22/23
5.91067%
23/24
5.63849%
24/25
Overall absence rate

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

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