St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham, Halstead
St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Halstead. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 10th-highest of the 11 schools in Halstead with published results, and 11,173rd of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.3 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 103% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- 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
St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham in detail
St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "My name is Chris Eynon and it is my great privilege to be the Headteacher of this vibrant, caring and inclusive school community. Our school has proudly served the village of Sible Hedingham for over 185 years."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include STEM and forest school.
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 61% of Year 6 pupils at St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham reached the expected standard in reading and 74% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 61% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham
For September 2026 entry, 39 families put St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham as their first choice and 66 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 9 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham are de Vere Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 78% reading, 83% maths); St Giles' Church of England Primary School (2 miles, Good, 67% reading, 78% maths); Gosfield Community Primary School (2.5 miles, Good, 75% reading, 45% maths); and Holy Trinity Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Halstead (2.9 miles, Good, 70% reading, 80% maths).
St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
de Vere Primary SchoolSt Giles' Church of England Primary SchoolGosfield Community Primary SchoolHoly Trinity Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Halstead
What parents say
69 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham (as of September 2025): 96% would recommend the school, 99% say their child is happy there and 83% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (83%).
Who goes there
12.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 4.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 16 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, other theft and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham issued 3 suspensions, 1.4 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; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from January 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils flourish in the welcoming, family atmosphere at this village school. The carefully constructed curriculum supports them to learn effectively. Adults have high expectations of pupils. The school's mantra of 'Aspire, Persevere, Achieve' encourages pupils to aim high and achieve well. Pupils come to school happily, knowing that every day counts. They love learning and are proud of their school.
There are respectful relationships throughout the school, between pupils of all ages and between pupils and adults. Older pupils are excellent role models. For example, play leaders take their responsibilities seriously. They support other pupils at lunchtime, on the playground and in the dining hall.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has constructed a well-sequenced, aspirational curriculum. It is carefully crafted to ensure that children gain the knowledge and skills they need in each subject, at each stage of their education. In the Reception Year, for example, children take part in a range of activities that prepare them for later learning in all subjects. For example, children sing songs and experiment with sounds. They play un-tuned percussion instruments and learn to follow a beat. This prepares them for music lessons in key stage 1.
Teachers use a range of strategies to help pupils build their learning over time. Lessons start with a recap to aid pupils' recall of prior learning. Teachers explain new learning well. They give pupils time to practise and apply what they have learned. As a result, pupils' work is generally of a high quality. Pupils talk confidently about what they have learned, often correctly using subject-specific vocabulary.
From Ofsted's October 2024 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 January 2019 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
12.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
69 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 61% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 67% to 74% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 73% to 61% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.8
Avg class size
29.0
Infant (KS1)
31.3
KS2
5
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham
St Peter's Post Issue 54
2 Oct 2026
St Peter's Post Issue 52
18 Sep 2026
St Peter's Post - Issue 50
10 Jul 2026
St Peter's Post Newsletter Issue 44
22 May 2026
St Peter's Post Issue 43
15 May 2026
St Peter's Post Issue 47
From St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham.
- Primary Sports Group - St Peter'sAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham 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)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
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
Will you get a place at St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Essex, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham 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
103%
Over capacity
217 pupils
210 places
7 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Halstead
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Halstead
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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
30
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
17.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
213
Total Pupils
114
Boys
99
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
19.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,932
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,129
Per pupil
£1233k
Total funding
£47k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.0%
Overall absence
2.6%
Persistent absence
191
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 Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham
Questions parents ask about St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham
What are SATs results like at St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham?
Of the pupils at St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 61% reached the expected standard in reading and 74% did so in maths.
What is St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham's Ofsted rating?
St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham?
No fixed boundary. When St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham?
St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham was full in 2025, at 103% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham?
Classes at St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham average 30.8 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham?
St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham has around 213 pupils on roll. 12% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham?
4% of sessions were missed at St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham in 2024/25. 2.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham 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.
Does St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Primary Sports Group - St Peter's (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham?
St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham is at School Road, Sible Hedingham, Halstead, Essex, CO9 3NR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)