Coopersale and Theydon Garnon Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Review 2026

For a one-form entry primary, the headline numbers are striking. In 2024, 92.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 27.67% reached greater depth across reading, writing and maths, compared with 8% across England.

This is a Church of England voluntary controlled school with a clear community footprint. It began life as the former Theydon Garnon School, founded in 1850 by the church, then moved to its current Coopersale premises in September 1970.

Day-to-day, the leadership picture is straightforward. The headteacher is Mr Dale Bateman.

The school presents itself as a place where pupils feel settled, secure, and ready to learn. The most recent routine inspection describes pupils as happy and positive about learning, with children in the early years settling quickly.

There is also a clear organising idea that runs through messaging to families. The school’s published vision is, “Making choices every day to support well-being for everyone.” Alongside this, it explicitly references the Fundamental British Values, then places these within the Church of England education vision of being deeply Christian while serving the common good, framed through wisdom, hope, community, and dignity.

Christian distinctiveness is not treated as a bolt-on. The school describes strong links with St Alban’s Church in Coopersale, including services hosted through the year and an ongoing connection via church school governors. The church itself is described as built in 1852 at the bequest of Miss Archer-Houblon, who also provided the parish with a school and vicarage.

The outcomes data puts the school securely above England averages. In 2024, 92.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with 62% across England. At the higher standard, 27.67% reached greater depth across reading, writing and maths, compared with 8% across England.

Looking at the component measures, the 2024 picture includes an average scaled score of 108 in reading, 107 in maths, and 107 in grammar, punctuation and spelling. Reading is particularly notable in the underlying data, with 100% reaching the expected standard.

Rankings add useful context for parents comparing nearby schools. Ranked 2,655th in England and 1st in Epping for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), performance sits above England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

The inspection evidence points to a structured approach in core subjects, with clarity around sequencing and checking understanding. In its curriculum evaluation, the inspection notes that curriculum thinking is broken into small steps in the subjects reviewed, and that teachers have the expertise to deliver these plans. It also highlights clear introduction of new ideas and vocabulary, regular checking of understanding before moving on, and additional practice or extra help where needed.

Beyond the inspection lens, the school gives a practical window into its wider curriculum through published learning journey themes. Recent topics include, for example, Anglo Saxons (Years 3 and 4), Ancient Greece (Years 5 and 6), and WW2 (upper juniors), with structured topic overviews published by term. This matters because, for a one-form entry primary, coherence and sequencing often depend on careful planning rather than sheer staffing scale.

Faith education is embedded rather than peripheral. The school explicitly positions its curriculum drivers as including the school’s vision and Christian values, with an aim to promote Christian distinctiveness.

As an Essex primary, transfer to secondary is primarily shaped by the county’s coordinated admissions timetable. The school regularly shares secondary open events information with Year 6 families, including communications about Epping St John’s and Davenant Foundation School open evenings and taster experiences.

There is also a local school-improvement partnership dimension. The school describes itself as part of the Epping Forest School Led Improvement Partnership, and names Epping St John’s Secondary as an associate partnership school. For parents, that can be a practical indicator of local professional links and shared development work, even though it does not determine admissions outcomes.

Reception entry is coordinated through Essex, and the timeline for September 2026 entry is clearly stated. Applications can be made between 10 November 2025 and 15 January 2026, with offers sent to online applicants by email on 16 April 2026.

Demand data suggests consistent pressure on places. In the latest recorded primary admissions data, there were 81 applications and 29 offers, with the school listed as oversubscribed, equivalent to 2.79 applications per place.

Oversubscription rules are published in a straightforward priority order. After looked-after and previously looked-after children, the policy prioritises siblings, then children living within the priority admission area for the school, then children living within the priority admission areas of several named local primaries, with remaining applications considered after that. Where a tie-break is needed within a category, priority is by straight line distance from home to school. The waiting list is stated as held until 31 December 2026.

If you are trying to understand practical likelihood, start by mapping your home address against the school’s priority admission area, then sense-check local travel and drop-off feasibility. Families comparing multiple local options can also use FindMySchool’s Map Search and Saved Schools shortlist tools to keep the process tidy across deadlines and criteria.

The school’s public safeguarding information is explicit about roles and responsibilities, naming the headteacher as Designated Safeguarding Lead, with deputy safeguarding leads also identified.

The most recent routine inspection reinforces the sense of an established safety culture. It describes systems that enable pupils to share concerns with teachers, and notes pupils’ confidence in those systems. It also references safety education, including online safety and road safety, plus staff training to identify and report concerns.

Mental health support signposting is also part of the parent-facing offer. The school states that its Mental Health Support Team is Mind in West Essex, and links this to wider support resources for pupils and adults.

This is not a school that relies on vague claims about “lots of clubs.” It names specific, rotating offers across years and terms. Examples referenced in school communications include Dance Club, Musical Theatre Club, and Cheerleading Club, alongside before-school football provision listed as Mr Bromley’s Morning Football Club for different year groups on different days.

Past club cycles have also included Choir Club and Computing Club, plus provision framed around wellbeing such as Mindfulness and Wellbeing Club, alongside creative options such as Art Club, Writer’s Club, Nature Craft Club, and practical clubs such as spelling and craft. The implication for families is simple: pupils are likely to find at least one structured “home” beyond class, whether that is performance, sport, creative making, or quieter interest-led activity.

Enrichment also shows up in practical partnerships. For music, the school has communicated individual music lessons delivered in partnership with Essex Music Service, with specialist tutors teaching during the school day.

The published core day runs from 8.50am to 3.20pm, with a soft opening allowing drop-off between 8.40am and 8.50am, and collection between 3.15pm and 3.20pm.

Wraparound childcare is available via Shine Clubs, described as the school’s breakfast and after-school provider. If you rely on wraparound daily, it is worth checking session times and availability directly with the provider before committing to a school choice.

For travel, Epping Underground station on the Central line is the closest Tube hub, which is helpful context for commuting families balancing school drop-off with onward travel. Local bus services also operate through the wider Epping and Coopersale area, including published timetables from local operators.

• Oversubscription pressure. With 81 applications for 29 offers in the latest recorded admissions data, securing a place can be competitive, especially outside the priority admission area.

• Faith character is real. This is a Church of England school with explicit Christian framing and an active relationship with St Alban’s Church. Families comfortable with a church-school approach will likely appreciate the coherence; others may prefer a more secular ethos.

• Clubs vary by term. The named offer changes over time, and popular clubs can be capacity-limited. If an after-school activity is central to your child’s happiness, check the current programme and how places are allocated.

This is a high-performing Essex primary with a clear Church of England identity, a well-articulated wellbeing-centred vision, and results that sit comfortably above England averages. The day-to-day experience is shaped by structured teaching and a practical extracurricular offer that includes sport, performing arts, creative clubs, and wellbeing provision.

Who it suits: families seeking a one-form entry primary with strong academic outcomes, a visible Christian ethos, and a busy co-curricular programme, especially those positioned well for the published admissions criteria. The limiting factor is admission competition rather than educational quality.