Thaxted Primary School, Dunmow
Thaxted Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Dunmow. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 8 schools in Dunmow with published results, and 4,824th of 14,452 across England. It was 93% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Essex (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Thaxted Primary School in detail
Thaxted Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are passionate about creating a place of learning which is populated with confident, creative and caring individuals who hold and nurture our six lifelong learning skills of; We believe these are the 'keys to success' and that if these skills are developed in all our learners they will be well-equipped to thrive in our ever-changing and challenging world."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at Thaxted Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 81% 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 (84% in reading, 84% in maths).
Getting a place at Thaxted Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 13 families put Thaxted Primary School as their first choice and 36 named it as one of their preferences, for 16 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Thaxted Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Thaxted Primary School are Great Easton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (3.1 miles, Good, 77% reading, 68% maths); Wimbish Primary Academy (3.2 miles, 36% reading, 45% maths); Great Sampford Community Primary School (3.4 miles, Good, 92% reading, 75% maths); and Debden Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary Academy (4 miles, Good, 83% reading, 78% maths).
Thaxted Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Great Easton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolWimbish Primary AcademyGreat Sampford Community Primary SchoolDebden Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary Academy
Who goes there
11.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 41 pupils (18%) received SEN support and 6 (2.6%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Thaxted Primary School.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Star (outside), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 10 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and drug offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Thaxted Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 1.6 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; 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
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
11.4%
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 remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 81% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 77% to 69% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.5
Avg class size
25.5
Infant (KS1)
31.0
KS2
8
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Thaxted Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Thaxted Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Thaxted 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
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
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 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 Thaxted Primary School
Will you get a place at Thaxted Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Thaxted Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Thaxted Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Thaxted Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Essex, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Thaxted Primary School 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
93%
Near capacity
247 pupils
266 places
19 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Dunmow
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Dunmow
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
Inspection History(7)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
41
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
20.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
228
Total Pupils
120
Boys
108
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
14
Teachers
16.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,398
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,982
Per pupil
£1334k
Total funding
£45k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.0%
Overall absence
12.0%
Persistent absence
234
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Thaxted Primary School
What are SATs results like at Thaxted Primary School?
Of the pupils at Thaxted Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 81% did so in maths.
What is Thaxted Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Thaxted Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024.
What is the catchment area for Thaxted Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Thaxted Primary School is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Thaxted Primary School?
Thaxted Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 93% of its 266 places.
How big are the classes at Thaxted Primary School?
Classes at Thaxted Primary School average 28.5 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Thaxted Primary School?
Thaxted Primary School has around 228 pupils on roll. 11% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Thaxted Primary School?
5% of sessions were missed at Thaxted Primary School in 2024/25. 12% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Thaxted Primary School?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Thaxted 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 Thaxted Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 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 Thaxted Primary School?
Thaxted Primary School is at Bardfield Road, Thaxted, Dunmow, Essex, CM6 2LW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)