St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Weald, Brentwood

Ofsted's report card from its 18 November 2025 inspection grades St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Weald on 7 areas: 1 exceptional and 6 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Exceptional. "Pupils are supremely well prepared for their next steps."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "The school's attendance figures are above the national average."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have designed a custom-made, highly ambitious curriculum."

Early years - Strong standard. "The carefully designed early years curriculum ensures that children get off to a flying start."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders are determined that every pupil gets the best possible chance to be successful."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Strong leadership sits behind all aspects of the school's work."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's approach to pupils' personal development takes careful consideration of pupils' needs."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders and those responsible for governance should sustain the effectiveness of their work in all areas. They should seek continued improvement, overcoming barriers and challenges, in order to drive a transformational impact for all pupils. This includes disadvantaged pupils, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who are known (or previously known) to children's social care, and those who may face other barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing".

In 2025, 98% of Year 6 pupils at St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Weald reached the expected standard in reading and 100% 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 (98% in reading, 100% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 110 families put St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Weald as their first choice and 230 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is 1.8 first choices for every place. 51 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Weald are Holly Trees Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 75% reading, 88% maths); Drapers' Maylands Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 82% reading, 87% maths); Larchwood Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 78% reading, 85% maths); and Drapers' Pyrgo Priory School (1.5 miles, Requires improvement, 54% reading, 72% maths).

St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Weald's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

126 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Weald (as of April 2026): 98% would recommend the school, 99% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that they are kept well informed about progress (95%).

3.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Mixed (9%).

In 2026, 21 pupils (4.6%) received SEN support and 11 (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 autism.

The nearest railway station is Brentwood Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.

In August 2026, police recorded 22 crimes within a mile of the school, most often vehicle crime, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).

In 2024/25, St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Weald issued 1 suspension, 0.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Weald are Drapers' Academy (1.4 miles), Becket Keys Church of England Free School (1.6 miles), Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School (1.6 miles) and Brentwood County High School (1.8 miles).