Great Sampford Community Primary School
Saffron Walden, CB10 2RL · Essex · primary school
Check the area around this school
62nd of 391 primary schools in Essex we can score, 444 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 3,510 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 7.4/10 among them, against 8.1/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 75.0 · 78 | 40% | 3.11 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 17.0 · 87 | 25% | 2.18 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Great Sampford Community Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 75.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 17.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in June 2023. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 7.4 out of 10 among them, against 8.1 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in tag rugby, gymnastics, dance, football, dodge-ball, cricket, rounders, and athletics. The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 79 pupils against a stated capacity of 105. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to progress from the expected standard to the higher standard? What specific activities are available during the breakfast and after-school clubs? How does the curriculum adapt to the diverse backgrounds of the student body?
What Ofsted said about Great Sampford Community Primary School
Overview
Great Sampford Community Primary School is described as a welcoming environment where pupils and early years children "flourish" within a community defined by a "deep sense of togetherness." The report highlights strong relationships between staff and pupils, with adults maintaining high expectations that pupils meet by working hard in class. Leaders have developed an "ambitious curriculum" that supports all learners, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, fostering a culture where pupils feel safe and valued.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate care and consideration for one another, settling quickly and enjoying extracurricular clubs and school responsibilities.
- Reading is central to the curriculum, with teachers inspiring a "love of reading" and implementing a new phonics programme effectively.
- Staff possess secure subject knowledge, explaining concepts clearly and adapting lessons based on checks of pupil understanding.
- Leaders provide effective support for pupils with SEND, ensuring they access the same ambitious curriculum as their peers.
- Governors have a "clear and accurate understanding" of the school’s strengths and priorities, challenging and supporting leaders well.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure younger pupils struggling with reading are provided with books that "more closely match their phonic knowledge" to develop fluency.
- Leaders should "finalise the design of the curriculum" in a small number of subjects where essential knowledge has not been precisely identified, ensuring learning builds securely on prior knowledge.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders providing regular training for staff and governors to ensure they know how to spot and report pupils at risk.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 67% |
| 2023/24 | 60% |
| 2024/25 | 75% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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