West Horndon Primary School
Thorndon Avenue, West Horndon, Brentwood, CM13 3TROpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
West Horndon Primary School is a primary school in Brentwood for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. It ranks 17th of 17 primary schools in Brentwood. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2022.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 1 November 2022, report published 11 December 2022
- 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 1 November 2022
Pupils describe West Horndon as being a big family. Staff know pupils well. Pupils are proud to be part of such a welcoming school. Leaders have high aspirations for all pupils. Pupils rise to meet these expectations. All staff share this vision. Leaders make sure pupils have a wide set of experiences. These help pupils develop into confident individuals. Pupils develop their self-esteem through extra responsibilities. For example, pupils take part in class councils and the school parliament. These help pupils understand democracy. Pupils make friends from the moment they start school. They are confident that every member of staff will help them if they have a worry. They know how to keep themselves safe, including online. Pupils know what bullying is and say it rarely happens. If it does, they know staff will deal with it. Pupils enjoy their learning. The curriculum helps them develop their curiosity. They know they will get help if they are stuck. Pupils are well behaved and polite to each other. They welcome visitors into the school. They invite elderly members of the community into the school for afternoon tea and enjoy talking to them.
What the school should improve
- Not all staff have the knowledge they need to support pupils who are in the early stages of learning to read. Sometimes, staff encourage strategies that do not help pupils to develop fluency and phonics knowledge. As a result, some pupils do not learn to read as well as they could. Leaders should ensure that all staff receive training to enable them to provide high-quality support for pupils who fall behind with their reading.
- Some subject leaders are new to the post and have not yet undertaken monitoring activities to ensure the curriculum is being effectively delivered. Senior leaders should ensure that they continue to provide the necessary support for new leaders.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
18 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
180 pupils on roll, with places for 189
Schools near West Horndon Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulphan Church of England Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 57% met the expected standard |
| Ingrave Johnstone Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 72% met the expected standard |
| Great Berry Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 56% met the expected standard |
| Warley Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 67% met the expected standard |
| Merrylands Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 53% 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
- Mr Matthew O'Grady
- Phone
- 01277811741
- Address
- Thorndon Avenue, West Horndon, Brentwood, CM13 3TR
- Local authority
- Essex
- URN
- 114921
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.