High Ongar Primary School

  • Primary
  • Academy
  • Ages 4 to 11
Ofsted: Good

The Street, High Ongar, Ongar, CM5 9NBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

High Ongar Primary School is a primary school in Ongar for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. It ranks 257th of 387 primary schools in Essex. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 17 January 2023, report published 5 March 2023

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 January 2023

Pupils flourish at High Ongar Primary School as pupil well-being is at the heart of everyday life. Pupils know staff understand their individual needs. Staff care about pupils doing well. Pupils and staff work respectfully together to create a positive environment to learn in. All pupils receive a good education. Pupils are motivated to learn and rise to the high standards set by their teachers. They relish the learning opportunities on offer, including the chance to develop their sporting, musical, debating and volunteering interests. They speak enthusiastically about going on residential visits, earning community awards, winning the class attendance award and taking part in house and team competitions. Pupils enjoy sharing their views with leaders on aspects of school life. They like having extra responsibilities, such as being a house captain or play leader. Pupils follow the school motto of 'ready, respectful, safe', both in class and when playing outside. Pupils develop firm friendships and get along well. Pupils know what bullying is and say it rarely happens. If it did, they know adults will deal with it. This makes them feel safe. They are in no doubt that they have trusted adults who they can turn to for advice.

What the school should improve

  • A few foundation subjects have been recently updated and pupils do not yet have the prior knowledge needed to understand some of the revised curriculum. Leaders need to ensure that all teachers are reminded of this when starting a new topic and ensure that teachers plan in time to allow for these gaps to be filled securely and recalled in enough detail before moving on to new learning.
  • In a few foundation subjects, leaders have not precisely set out the knowledge pupils need about the wider concepts they want pupils to understand. This means that teachers do not build these concepts securely into their curriculum sequence and so pupils cannot yet apply their understanding in the way leaders fully intend. Leaders should ensure that these curriculum plans are clear and understood by the staff that teach them.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

18 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths56%

56%, 6 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths11%

11%, 3 percentage points above the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score103

103, 3 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score103

103, 2 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score103

103, 2 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

111 pupils on roll, with places for 150

Eligible for free school meals13.5%

13.5%, 13 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language0.9%

0.9%, 20.7 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support16.2%

16.2%, 1.4 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan1.8%

1.8%, 4.2 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near High Ongar Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Ongar Primary School1 mileOfsted: Good70% met the expected standard
Chipping Ongar Primary School1 mileOfsted: Good64% met the expected standard
Dr Walker's CofE Primary School2 milesOfsted: Requires improvementNot published
Blackmore Primary School3 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standard55% met the expected standard
Moreton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School3 milesOfsted: Good75% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
BRIDGE ACADEMY TRUST
Age range
4 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
No
Headteacher
Mrs Stephanie Kilbey
Address
The Street, High Ongar, Ongar, CM5 9NB
Local authority
Essex
URN
146139

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.