The Echelford Primary School, Ashford

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades The Echelford Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "Children get off to an excellent start to their education in the school's early years."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that the personal development programme meets pupils' needs well and prepares them for the future."

Achievement - Expected standard. "At every stage, pupils are prepared well for their next educational steps."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Many pupils attend well and make the most of every moment at school."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a curriculum from early years to Year 6 which is ambitious and interesting."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have high and ambitious expectations for all pupils."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders across the school, trust and governing body hold high ambition for all pupils."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to embed the school's approach to further strengthen pupils' writing, providing them with the support they require to meet their learning needs".

In its own words: "Everyday we grow together as a year, a class, a school, a community and an individual. Experiences are learning opportunities both in the classroom or when we play. We share our ideas not as 600 individual voices but as one. We get better at things by working and growing together as a community."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, tennis, athletics, gymnastics, basketball, badminton, dance and drama.

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at The Echelford Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 84% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 79% in Surrey and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 84% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 54 families put The Echelford Primary School as their first choice and 145 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to The Echelford Primary School are Ashford CofE Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 63% reading, 57% maths); St Michael Catholic Primary School & Nursery (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 95% reading, 97% maths); Meadhurst Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 64% reading, 63% maths); and Clarendon Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 83% reading, 76% maths).

The Echelford Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

The Echelford Primary School is one of 7 schools run by Lumen Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 66% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

53 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Echelford Primary School (as of September 2026): 79% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 63% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (87%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (63%).

12.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 80 pupils (13.1%) received SEN support and 13 (2.1%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Ashford (Surrey) Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chessholme Road (opposite), 270 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 158 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Surrey (76), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The Echelford Primary School issued 19 suspensions, 3.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to The Echelford Primary School are Thomas Knyvett College (1.2 miles), Sunbury Manor School (1.6 miles), The Bishop Wand Church of England School (1.7 miles) and The Matthew Arnold School (1.7 miles).