The Robert Drake Primary School
Church Road, New Thundersley, Benfleet, SS7 3HTOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Robert Drake Primary School is a primary school in Benfleet for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. It ranks 2nd of 10 primary schools in Benfleet. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 6 February 2024, report published 21 March 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 6 February 2024
The Robert Drake Primary School is a happy and friendly place to learn. Pupils learn a curriculum that builds on what they already know and stretches them further. Pupils enjoy their lessons and achieve well. Pupils value the warm relationships they develop with their teachers. This helps them to feel safe. They know there is always someone to speak to if they have worries. Pupils embrace the school's ethos. They know the school's motto 'everyone is special, different and unique'. Pupils behave well. They know how they should behave and live up to leaders' expectations. This creates a calm atmosphere across the school. Pupils use what they learn about friendship to treat each other with kindness and respect. Pupils attend a range of school trips and take part in clubs such as netball, street dance, cross-country and karate. Pupils value the clubs on offer, and they talk highly of the 'Happiness Hub'. Pupils show responsibility in their leadership roles. They are proud to have jobs at school and know that this is an important part of making their school a better place. Eco-warriors are especially proud of working to make the school's environment better, such as by planting trees.
What the school should improve
- In some subjects, including phonics, teachers do not always identify gaps in pupils' learning. This means that staff sometimes plan activities that do not build effectively on what pupils already know and can do. The school needs to ensure that in all subjects, staff check effectively what pupils know and can do and use this to inform their planning and teaching.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
46 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
313 pupils on roll, with places for 315
Schools near The Robert Drake Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 90% met the expected standard |
| Holy Family Catholic Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 43% met the expected standard |
| Thundersley Primary School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | 67% met the expected standard |
| Kents Hill Junior School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | 77% met the expected standard |
| Kents Hill Infant Academy | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- THE ROBERT DRAKE PRIMARY SCHOOL
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Penny Coe Mrs Natalie Jackson
- Phone
- 01268754124
- Address
- Church Road, New Thundersley, Benfleet, SS7 3HT
- Local authority
- Essex
- URN
- 137246
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.