St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School is performing well overall, with a good quality of education and a supportive environment for its pupils. The strong leadership from the headteacher and the trust has fostered a culture of high expectations, which is evident in the improvement in behavior and attitudes towards learning. Despite facing challenges in the past due to staff changes and inconsistent teaching approaches, the school has taken effective action to enhance learning outcomes. Students demonstrate positive attitudes and a sense of respect for their peers and adults alike, contributing to a welcoming and engaging school atmosphere.

Strengths

• Pupils show positive attitudes and courteous behavior.
• Effective measures to improve standards of behavior and reduce disruptions in lessons.
• Strong leadership and management from the headteacher and the trust.
• Reformed curriculum leads to improved learning outcomes in reading and mathematics.
• High participation in extracurricular activities, particularly among disadvantaged pupils.
• Effective support for pupils with SEND to ensure their learning alongside peers.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum plans in subjects other than English and mathematics are new, leading to a lack of deep knowledge among students.

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 St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham attended 90.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 26.9% 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, 6.2% of pupils at St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham 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 St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham had 25.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 26.3% 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, 20.7% of pupils at St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham 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 2024–25 St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham received £19,387 and spent £10,374 for each of its 81 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £33,000 (£410 per pupil).

Across all 21 schools of The Diocese of Chelmsford Vine Schools Trust, income was £7,530 and spending £7,249 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 Maldon · Essex local authority: places and applications

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham is part of The Diocese of Chelmsford Vine Schools Trust, which runs 21 schools. The nearest others:

• St Cedd's Church of England Primary School Southminster
• St Leonard's Church of England Primary School Southminster
• Christchurch Church of England Primary School Chelmsford
• St Osyth Church of England Primary School Clacton-On-Sea
• Howbridge Church of England Junior School Witham
• Rivenhall Church of England Primary School Witham
• St James the Great Church of England Primary School Colchester
• Great Clacton Church of England Junior School Clacton-On-Sea
• Weeley St Andrew's CofE Primary School Clacton-On-Sea
• Rolph Church of England Primary School and Nursery Clacton-On-Sea

What is St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham is Good, from an inspection in July 2024.

When was St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham last inspected by Ofsted?

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham was last inspected in July 2024.

How many pupils does St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham have?

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham has 87 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham cover?

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 47% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham?

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham is at The Street, Tillingham, Southminster, Essex, CM0 7TJ.