Milldene Primary School

Milldene Primary School is performing well as a good school, maintaining its strong reputation since its last inspection in October 2016. Pupils enjoy their time at school, feel safe, and appreciate the inclusive environment. Instructional practices are effective, with teachers adapting lessons to meet student needs, leading to positive outcomes and a well-ordered curriculum. Although there are notable strengths in reading and the personal development of students, some areas of the curriculum require clearer outlines of key knowledge to ensure deeper understanding over time.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy a broad and interesting curriculum.
• Strong emphasis on reading and phonics, leading to confident readers.
• Effective identification and support for pupils who struggle with reading.
• Pupils demonstrate a good understanding of diversity and inclusivity.
• Positive behaviour and relationships among pupils.
• Staff are well-trained to support pupils with special educational needs.
• Wide range of extracurricular activities, especially in sports.

Areas for Improvement

• Some subjects lack clear outlines of key knowledge needed for depth of understanding.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Milldene Primary School attended 93.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 20.0% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 4.6% of pupils at Milldene Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Milldene Primary School had 26.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 36.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 21.1% of pupils at Milldene Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Milldene Primary School received £6,804 and spent £6,634 for each of its 185 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £53,000 (£287 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Colchester · Essex local authority: places and applications

What is Milldene Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Milldene Primary School is Good, from an inspection in July 2022.

When was Milldene Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Milldene Primary School was last inspected in July 2022.

How many pupils does Milldene Primary School have?

Milldene Primary School has 185 pupils on roll.

What age range does Milldene Primary School cover?

Milldene Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Milldene Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Milldene Primary School?

Milldene Primary School is at 65 Barbrook Lane, Tiptree, Colchester, Essex, CO5 0EF.