Wimbish Primary Academy, Saffron Walden

Ofsted's report card from its 15 September 2026 inspection grades Wimbish Primary Academy 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.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders' vision for all pupils is lived through the Wimbish Way."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders work with relentless determination to meet the needs of pupils."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, typically achieve well across different subjects."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a culture where regular and high attendance is the norm."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a curriculum that is logically sequenced."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children are supported to feel safe, secure and ready to learn from the moment they join."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have implemented a well-designed personal development programme that begins in the early years."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should further refine their training and coaching models to ensure that teachers consistently make highly effective choices about what to teach and when and how to teach it to ensure that more pupils deepen and extend their learning"; "Leaders should review parts of the personal, social and health education curriculum so that pupils have secure and increased knowledge, with specific attention given to fundamental British values".

In its own words: "Welcome to Wimbish Primary Academy, part of Anglian Learning . Located in the heart of the Essex countryside within a small but friendly community, Wimbish connects the local villages by offering a safe learning environment that nurtures, enriches and inspires our pupils to do their best."

In 2024, 36% of Year 6 pupils at Wimbish Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 45% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 75% in Essex and 76% and 74% across England.

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

For September 2026 entry, 3 families put Wimbish Primary Academy as their first choice and 6 named it as one of their preferences, for 5 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 Wimbish Primary Academy are Radwinter Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 88% reading, 63% maths); Debden Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary Academy (2.7 miles, Good, 83% reading, 78% maths); Katherine Semar Infant School (3.2 miles, Outstanding); and Katherine Semar Junior School (3.2 miles, Outstanding, 88% reading, 91% maths).

Wimbish Primary Academy is one of 22 schools run by Anglian Learning, 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.

9.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (68%) and Black (15%).

In 2026, 18 pupils (43.9%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Wimbish Primary Academy.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (adjacent), 160 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 4 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).

Wimbish Primary Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.