St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Saffron Walden
St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Saffron Walden. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 8th-highest of the 11 schools in Saffron Walden with published results, and 5,545th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 107% of capacity.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
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
St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School in detail
St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "I was absolutely delighted and incredibly proud to have been appointed as the Headteacher for St Mary's Primary School back in September 2019 and I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you. I have been a Headteacher, a Senior Leader and a class teacher in primary schools in Essex for over 20 years."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care.
Coming up: an open day on Monday 16 November 2026 at 9.30am and an open day on Tuesday 24 November 2026 at 9.30am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 90% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 91% in reading and 85% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 25 families put St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School as their first choice and 86 named it as one of their preferences, for 25 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School are R A Butler Infant School (0.5 miles, Good); R A Butler Junior School (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 93% reading, 93% maths); St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Saffron Walden (0.6 miles, Good, 97% reading, 94% maths); and Katherine Semar Infant School (1.2 miles, Outstanding).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School.
R A Butler Infant SchoolR A Butler Junior SchoolSt Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Saffron WaldenKatherine Semar Infant School
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Audley End Rail Station, about 2.1 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church Street (sw-bound), 170 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 1.8 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; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from May 2013, 13 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 enjoy attending this small school. They learn and play together in a safe and supportive environment. The school's values of respect and compassion are demonstrated by all. This is a school where all are valued and differences are well respected. Pupils and parents/carers appreciate the teaching, support and high standards that exist at the school. There is a strong feeling of teamwork from leaders, teachers, support staff and governors, which supports pupils well.
Behaviour routines and expectations are well established and clear. Pupils behave well in lessons and move around the school calmly and appropriately as a result. Pupils understand what bullying is and say staff deal with it swiftly should it occur.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Leaders carefully plan the curriculum. Policies and plans for each subject are detailed and clear, with specific end points identified. Subject leaders guide teachers in delivering subjects and monitor where further improvements or adaptations are needed. Lessons are structured around detailed curriculum plans, which ensures consistency and continuity. Assessment is used effectively within lessons and at specified points in the term, such as the end of taught units. Teachers use information from these assessments to adapt teaching, support pupils and provide challenge for those who are ready. At times, teachers do not recognise when some pupils could be moved on to new learning to ensure that no time is wasted.
From Ofsted's May 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 May 2013 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
20.1%
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 declined from 91% to 71% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 85% to 90% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 76% to 81% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
32.4
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
33.0
KS2
5
Total classes
4 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School.
- R A B Late Play Club690m away · Not yet graded
- Club Excel at Dame Bradbury's School890m away · Not yet graded
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, with their latest published grades:
- Olivers Lodge - Saffron Walden - Day nursery, under 0.1 milesOfsted report card, 29 January 2026: Expected standard in 2 areas, Needs attention in 4 areas; safeguarding standards met
- St. Thomas More Montessori Pre School - Day nursery, 0.5 milesOfsted, 17 May 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Stephen Perse Nurseries - Dame Bradbury's - Day nursery, 0.6 milesOfsted, 21 October 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Saffron Walden Nursery School - Day nursery, 0.7 milesOfsted, 24 April 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Crocus Early Years Centre - Day nursery, 0.8 milesOfsted, 15 November 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided 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
- 14
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 13 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
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 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 St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Will you get a place at St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?
For 2026 entry it had 25 first choices for 25 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
107%
Over capacity
225 pupils
210 places
15 pupils over capacity 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 Uttlesford Primary B: North (Saffron Walden) planning area (Essex) will have 88 spare primary places in 2027/28. In the year groups that are short, it estimates 25 additional places needed.
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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
44
SEN Support
11
EHC Plans
24.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
224
Total Pupils
110
Boys
114
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
22.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,032
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,213
Per pupil
£1273k
Total funding
£62k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.9%
Overall absence
9.3%
Persistent absence
205
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
St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Questions parents ask about St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% reached the expected standard in reading and 90% did so in maths.
What is St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in May 2013, it was rated Good.
Is it hard to get a place at St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?
St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School was full in 2025, at 107% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?
Classes at St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School average 32.4 pupils (2025/26). 4 classes have more than 30 pupils.
How many pupils go to St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?
St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has around 224 pupils on roll. 20% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?
4.9% of sessions were missed at St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School in 2024/25. 9.3% of pupils were persistently absent.
Does St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School: R A B Late Play Club (690m away, registered, not yet graded) and Club Excel at Dame Bradbury's School (890m away, registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 13 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 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 St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?
St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is at Castle Street, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1BQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)