Richard de Clare Community Academy
Halstead, CO9 2JT · Essex · primary school
Check the area around this school
382nd 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.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 1.8/10 against 2,257 of them, against 1.9/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 48.0 · 16 | 40% | 0.65 |
| Ofsted | 10 | 35% | 0.34 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 2.0 · 24 | 25% | 0.59 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Richard de Clare Community Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 48.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 2.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.9 out of 10 against all schools). The school was inspected in June 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 370 pupils against a stated capacity of 466. 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 who are below the expected standard in maths? What specific interventions are in place for the 2.0% who reach the higher standard? How does the new inspection framework affect current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Richard de Clare Community Academy
Overview
The inspection found that Richard de Clare Community Academy is fulfilling the "expected standard" of education and care. Leaders have established a "well-embedded, inclusive culture" where pupils feel safe, valued, and supported, particularly those with complex needs or low starting points. While published outcomes remain below national averages, the report emphasises that this does not reflect the "accelerated progress" many pupils make from their initial low levels of language and communication skills.
Strengths
- Pupils make "secure progress" from their starting points, with many reaching age-related expectations by key stage 2 despite entering with skills "well below age-related expectations".
- A "therapeutic and restorative" approach to behaviour creates a "calm and orderly environment" where bullying is rare and pupils feel safe.
- The curriculum is "clear, well-sequenced and ambitious," with effective teaching in early reading, phonics, and mathematics that builds firm foundations.
- Leaders demonstrate a "detailed understanding of the school's context," working closely with families and external agencies to remove barriers to learning.
- Attendance is "rising" and persistent absence is falling due to targeted support and close tracking by leaders.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must embed and monitor the "whole-school communication strategy" to help pupils develop secure foundational skills in expressing ideas verbally.
- Staff require further training in pedagogical approaches to ensure "high-quality teaching is consistent across the school," particularly regarding opportunities for partner talk.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 55% |
| 2023/24 | 40% |
| 2024/25 | 48% |
| 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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