Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School

Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School has been rated as good overall, showcasing a positive learning environment where pupils are happy and engage well with their education. The school has established a broad and ambitious curriculum that supports pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to achieve resilience and independence in their learning. High expectations and well-planned lessons foster a purposeful atmosphere, while strong support from staff contributes to both pupil and teacher morale. However, there are areas within the newer curriculum where some teachers require additional training to effectively deliver the intended educational outcomes, which is critical for maintaining consistent progress among pupils. The school, which has undergone significant leadership changes since its previous inspection, is working within the context of a new governing body and has recently joined The Chorus Schools Federation. Although the overall quality of education is good, the need for ongoing professional development for staff in newly introduced subjects remains a concern, as it may affect how well pupils are able to achieve in those areas.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate values of respect, trust, and love.
• There is a positive atmosphere conducive to learning.
• Strong focus on reading with well-resourced phonics instruction.
• Pupils with SEND receive effective support and make strong progress.
• Staff well-being is prioritized, contributing to a stable workforce.

Areas for Improvement

• Some teachers in newly implemented curriculum areas lack adequate training.

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 Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School attended 95.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 7.3% 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, 2.2% of pupils at Wethersfield CofE VC 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 Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School had 11.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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, 38.6% of pupils at Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 0.0% 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 2023–24 Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School received £11,713 and spent £11,519 for each of its 45 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £55,000 (£1,220 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 Braintree · Essex local authority: places and applications

What is Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School is Good, from an inspection in April 2024.

When was Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School was last inspected in April 2024.

How many pupils does Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School have?

Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School has 44 pupils on roll.

What age range does Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School cover?

Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School for pupils aged 5 to 11.

What are Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School?

Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School is at Silver St, Wethersfield, Wethersfield Primary School, Braintree, Essex, CM7 4BP.