Stifford Clays Primary School, Grays
Stifford Clays Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Grays, part of South West Essex Community Education Trust Limited. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2022. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 13th-highest of the 16 schools in Grays with published results, and 7,614th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.2 first-choice applications for every place. It was 92% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2022)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Thurrock (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Stifford Clays Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at Stifford Clays Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 78% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 81% in Thurrock and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 79% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Stifford Clays Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 69 families put Stifford Clays Primary School as their first choice and 123 named it as one of their preferences, for 57 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 14 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Stifford Clays Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Stifford Clays Primary School are Deneholm Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 73% reading, 78% maths); Tudor Court Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 83% reading, 83% maths); St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 80% reading, 78% maths); and Little Thurrock Primary School (1 mile, Good, 77% reading, 75% maths).
Stifford Clays Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Deneholm Primary SchoolTudor Court Primary SchoolSt Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary SchoolLittle Thurrock Primary School
The trust
Stifford Clays Primary School is one of 6 schools run by South West Essex Community Education Trust Limited, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 68% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
All 6 schools in South West Essex Community Education Trust Limited
Who goes there
In 2026, 59 pupils (9.7%) received SEN support and 46 (7.6%) 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.
Stifford Clays Primary School has a resourced provision for autism: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Grays Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.
20 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Stifford Clays Primary School (outside), 70 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Stifford Clays Primary School issued 11 suspensions, 1.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Stifford Clays Primary School are William Edwards School (0.4 miles), The Hathaway Academy (0.7 miles), Orsett Heath Academy (1 mile) and Grays Convent High School (1.1 miles).
William Edwards SchoolThe Hathaway AcademyOrsett Heath AcademyGrays Convent High School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; 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 · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2022 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Personal development.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
22.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 79% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 78% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 82% to 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.4
Avg class size
28.2
Infant (KS1)
28.3
KS2
19
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Stifford Clays Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Stifford Clays Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Stifford Clays Primary School is in Thurrock; for families living there:
- Thurrock's school travel policy: Home to school travel and transport policy
- How to apply: apply for school travel support
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 7 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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 Thurrock is 12 (the median across 58 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 Stifford Clays Primary School
Will you get a place at Stifford Clays Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Stifford Clays Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Stifford Clays Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Stifford Clays Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Thurrock, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Stifford Clays Primary School for 2016 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Thurrock 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
92%
Near capacity
582 pupils
630 places
48 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Grays
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Grays
Across Thurrock council
Places available
2,543
Applications
2,192
Got 1st preference
90.1%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All primary applications across Thurrock council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
59
SEN Support
46
EHC Plans
17.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Stifford Clays Primary School has a resourced provision for autism: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
606
Total Pupils
323
Boys
283
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
28
Teachers
21.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,377
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,280
Per pupil
£3493k
Total funding
£224k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.0%
Overall absence
15.9%
Persistent absence
558
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
Questions parents ask about Stifford Clays Primary School
What are SATs results like at Stifford Clays Primary School?
Of the pupils at Stifford Clays Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% reached the expected standard in reading and 78% did so in maths.
What is Stifford Clays Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Stifford Clays Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2022.
What is the catchment area for Stifford Clays Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Stifford Clays Primary School is oversubscribed, Thurrock allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Stifford Clays Primary School?
Stifford Clays Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 92% of its 630 places.
How big are the classes at Stifford Clays Primary School?
Classes at Stifford Clays Primary School average 27.4 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Stifford Clays Primary School?
Stifford Clays Primary School has around 606 pupils on roll. 23% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Stifford Clays Primary School have specialist SEN provision?
Stifford Clays Primary School has a resourced provision for autism: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Stifford Clays Primary School?
6% of sessions were missed at Stifford Clays Primary School in 2024/25. 15.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Stifford Clays Primary School?
Apply through Thurrock's coordinated admissions process, naming Stifford Clays 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 Stifford Clays Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 7 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Thurrock is 12 (the median across 58 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Stifford Clays Primary School?
Stifford Clays Primary School is at Whitmore Avenue, Stifford Clays, Grays, Essex, RM16 2ST.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)