Terling Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Chelmsford

Ofsted's report card from its 15 September 2026 inspection grades Terling Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils demonstrate secure knowledge across the curriculum and speak confidently about prior learning and wider concepts."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have a secure understanding of attendance patterns, persistent absence and the barriers faced by individual pupils."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Pupils acquire appropriate knowledge and skills across a broad range of subjects."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children make a highly positive start to their education in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school's inclusive approach helps pupils, including those facing barriers to learning or wellbeing, participate in school life."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have navigated a period of turbulence, including leadership changes, staffing transitions and ongoing site developments."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from a wide range of experiences that promote confidence, resilience, wellbeing and readiness for later life."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should review the effectiveness of behaviour policies and their implementation in day-to-day practice, using this knowledge to anticipate behaviour concerns, take preventative action and evaluate the impact on pupils' behaviour"; "Leaders should raise expectations for pupils to take pride in their work, including through consistently fluent and legible handwriting, so that the quality of their work reflects the breadth and depth of their learning"; "Leaders should ensure that all adults have the skills and subject knowledge to deliver precise feedback and support across the curriculum".

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is hard to believe that there are now only three weeks until half term . The time is certainly passing quickly and there is plenty happening in school. Please keep an eye on ParentMail over the coming days for information about booking appointments for our forthcoming parent consultation meetings ."

In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at Terling Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 57% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 76% in reading and 82% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 18 families put Terling Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School as their first choice and 76 named it as one of their preferences, for 15 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 5 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Terling Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School are White Notley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (2.1 miles, Good, 87% reading, 87% maths); Acorn Infant Academy (2.4 miles, Good); Witham Oaks Academy (2.4 miles, Good, 83% reading, 81% maths); and Hatfield Peverel Infant and Nursery School (2.8 miles, Good).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Terling Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School.

9.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 17 pupils (17.2%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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.

Terling Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Hatfield Peverel Rail Station, about 2.1 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (opposite), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).

In 2024/25, Terling Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 1.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.