Runwell Community Primary School
Canewdon Gardens, Runwell, Wickford, SS11 7BJOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Runwell Community Primary School is a primary school in Wickford for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. It ranks 7th of 7 primary schools in Wickford. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 10 December 2024, report published 28 January 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Requires improvement
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 10 December 2024
Runwell Primary is an inclusive school which is ambitious for all its pupils. Pupils know the 'high five values' and understand how these can help them to make good choices. Pupils access a broad and balanced curriculum. This is enhanced by projects that support pupils to learn about and engage in the local community. Pupils typically achieve well. Many pupils behave well. However, in some lessons, pupils lose focus and find it difficult to sustain concentration. This means some pupils do not learn as well as they might. Most pupils get along well together at playtime. Pupils generally feel safe and happy. Occasionally, though, pupils are upset and feel unsettled when their peers do hurtful or unkind things. Pupils' social and emotional needs are supported well. The inclusion team offers support and advice to pupils and their families. Pupils' individual needs are considered and catered for. The 'zen zones' in each class provide an area for pupils to reflect and re-engage. A range of clubs and extra-curricular opportunities are offered to pupils. French and music clubs are particularly popular. Residential trips develop pupils' independence and resilience. School councillors and anti-bullying ambassadors are proud to play a role in school life.
What the school should improve
- The school has not precisely identified the key knowledge pupils should learn in some subjects. This means pupils do not learn and build on their knowledge as successfully as they might. The school should further refine its curriculum in these subjects to ensure the core knowledge pupils need to learn is clearly identified.
- The school's new behaviour policy is not yet having the desired impact. This means behaviour in class is not always conducive to learning and incidents of challenging behaviour occur too often. The school needs to continue to embed its behaviour policy to ensure it is fully understood by all stakeholders and further improves the standards of behaviour.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
57 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
362 pupils on roll, with places for 420
Schools near Runwell Community Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Wickford Church of England School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
| Wickford Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 52% met the expected standard |
| Hilltop Infant School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | Not published |
| Hilltop Junior School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | 67% met the expected standard |
| North Crescent Primary School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | 68% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- THE CHELMSFORD LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr James Donaldson
- Phone
- 01268735329
- Address
- Canewdon Gardens, Runwell, Wickford, SS11 7BJ
- Local authority
- Essex
- URN
- 137054
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.