Down Hall Primary School
Brooklyn Drive, Rayleigh, SS6 9LWOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Down Hall Primary School is a primary school in Rayleigh for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. It ranks 3rd of 8 primary schools in Rayleigh. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in April 2016.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 19 April 2016, report published 13 May 2016
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 4 February 2025
Down Hall Primary School is a happy and welcoming place. Pupils feel safe and valued. Pupils typically feel that 'everyone is really kind in school'. Pupils enjoy strong relationships with staff, who know them well and look after their well-being. The school has high expectations for pupils' learning and development. Pupils rise successfully to meet these standards. They work hard and take pride in their achievements, showing resilience and a positive attitude to learning. The school recognises and celebrates pupils' efforts and achievements. High expectations for behaviour are clear. Pupils stay engaged in lessons and follow school routines well. The behaviour of pupils is calm and purposeful. Pupils describe the school as a 'family'. They feel supported by both staff and their peers. Pupils understand the importance of respect and responsibility. They show kindness to one another and are keen to help. Older pupils take pride in being inspiring role models for younger children. Pupils engage in the wide range of leadership responsibilities such as house captains, prefects, and ambassadors. Pupils are proud ambassadors of Down Hall School. They value the school's inclusive and ambitious ethos: 'Empower each other to be the best we can be.'
What the school should improve
- Following recent changes to the curriculum, the school's ambitions for high achievement have not been fully met for older pupils in key stage 2. This means that they are not achieving the same success seen in younger years, such as in Year 1 phonics. To address this, the school should build on the effective strategies already in place to ensure that pupils benefit from the high expectations and achieve at consistently strong levels.
- Some groups of pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils, continue to have higher rates of absence than their peers. As a result, these pupils miss out on the full range of educational and personal development opportunities available to them. The school should continue with its successful attendance strategies and take further action to reduce absence among these pupils so that they can fully benefit from the school's provision.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
47 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
272 pupils on roll, with places for 315
Schools near Down Hall Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Nicholas Church of England Primary School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 32% met the expected standard |
| Glebe Primary School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 60% met the expected standard |
| Edward Francis Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 57% met the expected standard |
| Rayleigh Primary School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 78% met the expected standard |
| Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 70% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Lyndsey Wood
- Phone
- 01268780018
- Address
- Brooklyn Drive, Rayleigh, SS6 9LW
- Local authority
- Essex
- URN
- 114936
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.