The Echelford Primary School

The Echelford Primary School is a larger-than-average primary school within the Lumen Learning Trust, serving 615 pupils. Following a full section 5 inspection in April 2026, the school is judged to be performing at the expected standard overall, with early years and personal development and wellbeing rated as strong standard. Pupils achieve well academically, particularly in reading and mathematics at the end of key stage 2, where outcomes are significantly above the national average. Disadvantaged pupils also perform well in reading and mathematics, though their writing outcomes are more variable and a disadvantage gap remains in writing. The school has a caring, inclusive ethos, and pupils behave exceptionally well, demonstrating impeccable manners and a strong sense of belonging. Attendance is broadly in line with national averages, and persistent absence has improved. Safeguarding standards are met, with an open and positive culture of safeguarding.

Strengths

• Children get off to an excellent start in early years, with a well-designed curriculum and highly effective interventions.
• Language and communication development is central to the early years curriculum, with children becoming confident and articulate communicators.
• Pupils achieve significantly above the national average in reading and mathematics at the end of key stage 2.
• Disadvantaged pupils achieve well in reading and mathematics, often above national averages for disadvantaged pupils.
• Phonics teaching is precise and highly effective, leading to successful phonics screening check outcomes.
• Pupils behave very well, showing impeccable manners, concentration and resilience.
• The personal development programme is carefully planned and meets pupils' needs, preparing them well for the future.
• Pupils have a strong understanding of online safety, consent and positive relationships.
• There are many meaningful leadership opportunities for pupils, who take pride in shaping school life.
• Leaders, including the trust and governing body, hold high ambition for all pupils and have an accurate view of the school's strengths.
• Staff are well supported through professional development and value collaboration across the trust.
• Parents and carers appreciate the school's caring and nurturing ethos and the extensive pastoral support.

Areas for Improvement

• Pupils' writing outcomes only match national attainment, and disadvantaged pupils' writing outcomes are below the national average for non-disadvantaged pupils, leaving a disadvantage gap.
• Occasionally, teachers' adaptations do not support pupils to further improve their handwriting and writing composition.
• There are a few occasions where adjustments for pupils with SEND or disadvantaged pupils could be more precise in supporting their writing.

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 The Echelford Primary School attended 95.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 10.9% 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, 1.0% of pupils at The Echelford 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 The Echelford Primary School had 23.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 15.4% 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, 13.1% of pupils at The Echelford Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.1% 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 2024–25 The Echelford Primary School received £6,231 and spent £5,831 for each of its 615 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £895,000 (£1,456 per pupil).

Across all 6 schools of Lumen Learning Trust, income was £6,555 and spending £6,297 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Ashford (Spelthorne) · Surrey local authority: places and applications

The Echelford Primary School is part of Lumen Learning Trust, which runs 7 schools. The nearest others:

• Saxon Primary School Shepperton
• Riverbridge Primary School Staines
• Walton Oak Primary School Walton-On-Thames
• Darley Dene Primary School Addlestone
• Southfield Park Primary School Epsom
• Ewell Grove Primary and Nursery School Epsom

What is The Echelford Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Echelford Primary School is Expected standard, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was The Echelford Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Echelford Primary School was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does The Echelford Primary School have?

The Echelford Primary School has 612 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Echelford Primary School cover?

The Echelford Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

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

In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is The Echelford Primary School?

The Echelford Primary School is at Park Road, Ashford, Surrey, TW15 1EX.