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R A Butler Infant School

Saffron Walden, CB11 3DG · Essex · primary school

Ofsted: Good · 2015 Mixed Primary
OfstedGood
Pupils271
FSM8.9%
AI summary of the Ofsted report Inspected 2024-12-04 · Tap to collapse

Generated by AI from the official inspection report — not written by Ofsted or SchoolsGPT staff. Always read the full Ofsted PDF before relying on this summary.

Overview: R A Butler Infant School is a highly effective school where pupils thrive in a calm and harmonious environment. Pupils are extremely happy, and the school is incredibly ambitious for all pupils, achieving extremely well across a range of subjects.

Strengths:

  • Pupils are extremely happy and thrive in a calm and harmonious environment.
  • The school is incredibly ambitious for all pupils, achieving extremely well across a range of subjects.
  • Pupils have high attendance and develop a passion for learning.
  • Pupils with SEND play a full and active part in the school, learning the same rich and ambitious curriculum as their peers.
  • The school closely tracks pupils' attendance, taking swift and effective action if attendance dips.

Areas to improve: The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.

Safeguarding: The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Catchment / designated area

'Priority admission area' (catchment) is an explicit oversubscription criterion before the distance tiebreaker; Essex publishes an online catchment-area finder.

Source: Essex admissions policy

Ofsted judgement breakdown (2015-04-29)

Overall effectiveness
Good
Effectiveness of leadership and management
Outstanding
Early years provision (where applicable)
Good

What the entrance test covers

Essex has TWO different 11+ tests: 1. The CSSE exam — used by King Edward VI Grammar School (Chelmsford), Colchester Royal Grammar School, Colchester County High School for Girls, and the Southend grammar schools: English (60 minutes — comprehension, applied reasoning and a short continuous-writing element) and Mathematics (60 minutes, Key Stage 2-based), each marked out of 60. NO verbal or non-verbal reasoning; written (not purely multiple-choice) answers. One registration (csse.org.uk) and one mid-September sitting covers all CSSE schools; a combined standardised score around 303+ has historically been the consideration threshold. 2. Chelmsford County High School for Girls — NOT in the CSSE: it runs its own FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise) test, registered direct with the school on a separate date. FSCE questions can draw on the whole primary curriculum to the end of Year 5, in a different style from the CSSE papers — a girl applying to CCHS plus other Essex grammars prepares for two different exam formats.

Similar schools nearby

Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.

R A Butler Junior School 0.0 mi · Primary · Outstanding Saffron Walden, CB11 3DG St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Saffron Walden 0.1 mi · Primary · Good Saffron Walden, CB11 3DW St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 0.5 mi · Primary · Good Saffron Walden, CB10 1BQ Katherine Semar Infant School 0.7 mi · Primary · Not judged Saffron Walden, CB11 4DU Katherine Semar Junior School 0.7 mi · Primary · Outstanding Saffron Walden, CB11 4DU Debden Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary Academy 3.0 mi · Primary · Good Saffron Walden, CB11 3LE

Data sourced from GIAS, Ofsted and official Essex admissions publications. Figures can change year to year — always confirm with the school before applying.

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