Thaxted Primary School
Bardfield Road, Thaxted, Dunmow, CM6 2LWOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Thaxted Primary School is a primary school in Dunmow for ages 5 to 11. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. It ranks 137th of 387 primary schools in Essex. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 8 May 2024, report published 16 June 2024
- 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 8 May 2024
Pupils enjoy the friendly, family feel at this school. Older and younger pupils readily mix and help each other. Pupils know how to be good friends. They look out for anyone who needs a helping hand in lessons or at breaktimes. Pupils are confident that staff will listen to their concerns and help them to make things better. As a result, pupils feel safe here. Most pupils work hard to meet the high expectations of their teachers. Pupils are proud of their work and talk confidently about what they learn. They achieve well in most subjects. Most pupils settle quickly to the tasks that are set for them. From the early years, teachers kindly encourage pupils to follow the rules and routines. Occasionally, in lessons, a few pupils need an extra prompt to follow these rules and to consistently show the high standards of behaviour that the school would like to see. Pupils have positive attitudes to difference. They learn to work as a team through sports clubs such as netball. Pupils enjoy being part of the local community, for example visiting older residents or learning from the astronomy club.
What the school should improve
- Sometimes leaders have not established consistently effective approaches to evaluating the impact of their actions on outcomes for pupils. This makes it hard for them to know when to adjust or strengthen their actions to make things better for pupils. The school should continue to develop the skills of leaders, so they regularly review how well their actions are improving outcomes for pupils and act swiftly to bring about improvements when required.
- In a few subjects, teachers do not always check what pupils know during lessons. As a result, some pupils have gaps in their understanding or do not have tasks which sufficiently challenge them. The school should ensure that teachers have the expertise to routinely use assessment to adjust the curriculum to ensure all pupils are accessing and securing the most important learning.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
36 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
228 pupils on roll, with places for 266
Schools near Thaxted Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Easton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 41% met the expected standard |
| Wimbish Primary Academy | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Great Sampford Community Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 75% met the expected standard |
| Debden Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary Academy | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 78% met the expected standard |
| Great Bardfield Primary School | 4 miles | Report card: Expected standard | 45% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Foundation school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 5 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Caroline Crompton
- Phone
- 01371830240
- Address
- Bardfield Road, Thaxted, Dunmow, CM6 2LW
- Local authority
- Essex
- URN
- 115288
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.