South Benfleet Primary School, Benfleet
South Benfleet Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Benfleet. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 3rd-highest of the 10 schools in Benfleet with published results, and 3,694th of 14,452 across England. It was 97% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
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
South Benfleet Primary School in detail
South Benfleet Primary School in its own words
Coming up: an open day on Friday 6 November 2026 at 9.30am and an open day on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at 9.30am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at South Benfleet Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 86% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (86% in reading, 82% in maths).
Getting a place at South Benfleet Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 57 families put South Benfleet Primary School as their first choice and 114 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at South Benfleet Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to South Benfleet Primary School are Kents Hill Infant Academy (0.6 miles, Good); Kents Hill Junior School (0.6 miles, Good, 83% reading, 90% maths); Holy Family Catholic Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 60% reading, 67% maths); and Jotmans Hall Primary School (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, 84% reading, 76% maths).
South Benfleet Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Kents Hill Infant AcademyKents Hill Junior SchoolHoly Family Catholic Primary SchoolJotmans Hall Primary School
What parents say
148 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about South Benfleet Primary School (as of September 2025): 91% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 68% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (98%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (68%).
Who goes there
6.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 64 pupils (15.5%) received SEN support and 7 (1.7%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
South Benfleet Primary School had 26 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
The nearest railway station is Benfleet Rail Station, about 1030 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Kents Hill Road (opposite), 40 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, South Benfleet Primary School issued 6 suspensions, 1.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to South Benfleet Primary School are Harris Academy Benfleet (0.8 miles), The King John School (1.5 miles) and The Cornelius Vermuyden School (1.8 miles).
Harris Academy BenfleetThe King John SchoolThe Cornelius Vermuyden School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2015, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
South Benfleet Primary School excels at fostering a love of reading and supporting every child to become a confident reader. Teachers have strong subject knowledge and create a warm, welcoming environment where pupils behave well and work hard. The school goes beyond the classroom with enriching experiences like residential trips, community engagement, and the 50 Things challenge that motivate pupils to develop new skills and achieve their best.
Key Strengths
- Strong reading programme with well-trained staff helping all pupils become confident and fluent readers
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND, with precise and effective bespoke interventions
- Well-designed curriculum with effective staff training that develops subject knowledge
- Clear routines and high behavioural expectations established from Reception Year
- Rich opportunities for pupils to engage with the community through trips, visitors, and the 50 Things challenge
Areas for Improvement
- In some subjects, teaching does not consistently help pupils make connections between existing knowledge and new learning, limiting the depth of understanding they achieve
- School should ensure all subjects provide precise opportunities to link prior learning to new learning so pupils secure deeper understanding across the curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating a positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Choir performances at The Cliffs Pavilion, residential trip to the Netherlands, fieldwork in local area, visiting magistrates programme, 50 Things challenge (sewing, musical instruments, cooking), breakfast club
South Benfleet Primary School is a warm and welcoming primary school where pupils are eager to learn and achieve well. The school has maintained the good standards from its previous inspection through effective leadership and a well-designed curriculum.
At a Glance
6.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
148 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 82% to 86% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 79% to 90% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.6
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
29.5
KS2
14
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from South Benfleet Primary School
Weekly Newsletter 405 - 2 October 2026
2 Oct 2026
Weekly Newsletter 404 - 25 September 2026
25 Sep 2026
Weekly Newsletter 403 - 18 September 2026
18 Sep 2026
Weekly Newsletter 402 - 11 September 2026
11 Sep 2026
Weekly Newsletter 401 - 4 September 2026
4 Sep 2026
Weekly Newsletter 400 - 17 July 2026
17 Jul 2026
From South Benfleet Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with South Benfleet Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to South Benfleet Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. South Benfleet 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
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 10 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
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 South Benfleet Primary School
Will you get a place at South Benfleet Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against South Benfleet Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for South Benfleet Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to South Benfleet 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 South Benfleet 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.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
97%
Near capacity
409 pupils
420 places
11 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Benfleet
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Benfleet
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(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
64
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
17.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
414
Total Pupils
200
Boys
214
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
26
Teachers
15.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,207
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£2184k
Total funding
£42k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.9%
Overall absence
4.8%
Persistent absence
357
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
South Benfleet Primary School
Questions parents ask about South Benfleet Primary School
What are SATs results like at South Benfleet Primary School?
Of the pupils at South Benfleet Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 86% did so in maths.
What is South Benfleet Primary School's Ofsted rating?
South Benfleet Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for South Benfleet Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When South Benfleet 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 South Benfleet Primary School?
South Benfleet Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at South Benfleet Primary School?
Classes at South Benfleet Primary School average 29.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to South Benfleet Primary School?
South Benfleet Primary School has around 414 pupils on roll. 7% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at South Benfleet Primary School?
3.9% of sessions were missed at South Benfleet Primary School in 2024/25. 4.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to South Benfleet Primary School?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming South Benfleet 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 South Benfleet Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 10 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is South Benfleet Primary School?
South Benfleet Primary School is at High Road, South Benfleet, Benfleet, Essex, SS7 5HA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)