Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt

Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School continues to perform well, maintaining its good status since the last inspection in 2018. The school is characterized by a nurturing environment where pupils feel happy and safe, with parents expressing strong appreciation for the school's supportive community. Pupils demonstrate confidence and good behavior, bolstered by a curriculum that aligns with the school's vision of helping everyone shine their light, particularly effective for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). While the curriculum is largely effective, there are some gaps in the clarity of the knowledge pupils need to acquire in certain subjects. This occasionally leads to challenges in teachers planning lessons that build on pupils' existing knowledge effectively. However, with strong commitment to personal development and an emphasis on reading, the school exhibits a solid framework for pupil engagement and growth within the wider school community.

Strengths

• Pupils are happy and feel safe at school.
• The school has a caring culture that is appreciated by parents.
• Curriculum is well developed and meets the needs of most pupils.
• Strong support for pupils with SEND, enabling their independence and success.
• Effective phonics program supports early reading development.
• High participation in extra-curricular activities.
• Staff value their professional development and well-being support.
• Governors have strong knowledge of the school and its needs.

Areas for Improvement

• In some subjects, knowledge sequencing is unclear, affecting planning.
• Teachers occasionally do not adapt activities quickly enough to meet diverse needs.

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 Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt attended 96.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 6.6% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt 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 Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt had 22.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.1% 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, 15.8% of pupils at Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.9% 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 Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt received £6,083 and spent £6,173 for each of its 411 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £60,000 (£147 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).

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What is Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt is Good, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt last inspected by Ofsted?

Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt have?

Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt has 411 pupils on roll.

What age range does Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt cover?

Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt for pupils aged 5 to 11.

What are Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt?

Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt is at New Church Road, West Bergholt, Colchester, Essex, CO6 3JF.