Winter Gardens Academy, Canvey Island

Ofsted's report card from its 16 June 2026 inspection grades Winter Gardens Academy on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders are deeply aware of the impact that poor attendance can have on pupils' achievement."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed an ambitious and appropriately sequenced curriculum that begins in the Nursery."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a clear and coherent vision for early years provision."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a culture where everyone understands inclusion is a shared responsibility."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a clear and ambitious vision for the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a coherent and comprehensive programme of personal development."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Outcomes at the end of key stage 2 do not yet consistently reflect leaders' improvements in curriculum and teaching."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that all pupils are challenged to achieve their best across the curriculum to deepen their knowledge and understanding to improve achievement"; "Leaders should continue to refine and embed their approaches to attendance and behaviour to secure further improvement, with a particular focus on those pupils who are persistently absent, so they do not miss important learning".

In 2025, 61% of Year 6 pupils at Winter Gardens Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 51% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 68% in reading and 58% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 41 families put Winter Gardens Academy as their first choice and 86 named it as one of their preferences, for 44 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 Winter Gardens Academy are St Katherine's Church of England Primary School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 69% reading, 66% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and Nursery (0.6 miles, Good, 81% reading, 78% maths); William Read Primary Academy (0.7 miles, 63% reading, 69% maths); and Northwick Park Primary and Nursery Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 78% reading, 89% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Winter Gardens Academy.

Winter Gardens Academy is one of 5 schools run by South Essex Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 57% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

35.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 1.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and Mixed (5%).

The nearest railway station is Benfleet Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Castle View School (opposite), 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 170 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Winter Gardens Academy issued 68 suspensions, 16.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Winter Gardens Academy are The Cornelius Vermuyden School (0.6 miles) and Castle View School (0.8 miles).