Margaretting Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Review 2026: Elite KS2 Results in a Small Village Setting

A tiny village primary with outcomes that read like those of a much larger, heavily resourced school. With a capacity of 84 pupils and around 70 on roll in recent official records, it runs as a close-knit community where staff can genuinely know families well.

Academic results are the headline. In 2024, 94% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, versus an England average of 62%. The school also sits in the top 2% of primaries in England for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data), ranked 178th in England and 1st in the Ingatestone area.

Leadership is structured around an executive headteacher model within the LIFE Education Trust. The current executive headteacher is Mrs Melissa Taylor, with Mrs Sarah Kirk listed as Head of School.

This is a Church of England school with an explicit Christian vision, articulated as With God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). The 2025 SIAMS inspection describes a warm, loving and welcoming culture where pupils and adults are known and cherished, and where the school’s values shape day-to-day decisions rather than sitting in a policy folder.

The school’s values are presented consistently across official materials as Heartfelt Compassion, Courageous Optimism, and Boundless Creativity. These are not abstract labels. The most recent Ofsted report describes pupils who persevere with learning, take care of one another, and respond well to high expectations for behaviour and hard work.

The setting is distinctive for a primary. A 2025 to 2026 school brochure describes a Victorian building opened in 1864, positioned in the heart of the village. For families who prefer a small-school feel, this matters. The scale can reduce anonymity, increase pupil confidence, and make routines easier to embed, especially for younger pupils moving into Reception.

As part of LIFE Education Trust, the school also benefits from collaboration with other small local schools in the trust. That collaboration shows up in the way leadership capacity is shared, and in themed joint days referenced in official inspection material. For parents, the practical implication is that a very small school can still offer breadth, because some opportunities are designed across a wider network rather than relying on a single staff team.

The 2024 Key Stage 2 picture is exceptionally strong. 94% met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 48.67% reached greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 8%.

Scaled scores reinforce the same story. Reading averaged 110 and mathematics 108. Grammar, punctuation and spelling averaged 115. These are well above the usual England reference points for scaled scoring at this key stage.

Rankings provide another way to understand the strength of these outcomes. Ranked 178th in England and 1st in the Ingatestone area for primary outcomes, the school sits among the highest-performing in England (top 2%), using FindMySchool’s ranking model built on official data.

What do these figures mean in real terms for families? First, pupils are leaving Year 6 with a high likelihood of meeting, and often exceeding, expected standards across core subjects. Second, the large higher-standard proportion suggests the school is not only getting most pupils over the line, it is also stretching many pupils beyond it. In a small school, that stretch is often delivered through careful task design and tight feedback loops rather than formal sets, and the best evidence here is the scale of the outcomes themselves, year-group by year-group.

Parents who are comparing nearby primaries can use the FindMySchool Local Hub pages and comparison tools to view these results alongside other local schools on the same basis.

Curriculum intent is described as ambitious and structured, with clear sequencing and “small steps” that support cumulative learning. In practice, that tends to suit pupils who benefit from clarity and routine, and it also helps families understand what learning is building towards over time.

Early reading is a particular strength in the most recent Ofsted evidence base. Phonics starts from Reception, with books matched carefully to the sounds pupils are learning. The practical benefit is that most pupils learn to read well quickly, and older pupils are introduced to more ambitious texts and regular class story time that broadens reading beyond decoding.

The school’s organisation is shaped by its size. In the 2025 to 2026 brochure, classes are described as vertically grouped, with Reception and the early years taught together, then Years 1 and 2, Years 3 and 4, and Years 5 and 6. For many pupils, mixed-age classes can build independence and confidence, because younger pupils learn routines and behaviours from older classmates. For some children, it can take a little time to settle into, especially if they are used to a single-year cohort model.

As a primary serving pupils to age 11, the key transition is into Year 7. The school’s published materials highlight links to local secondary options, including The Anglo European School in Ingatestone and Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls as a LIFE partner school. The sensible way to read this is as a pathway and relationship, not as a promise, because secondary admissions remain governed by published criteria and local authority processes.

Practically, families should start Year 5 with a clear plan. If the aim is a specific secondary, check the school’s oversubscription criteria, the priority admissions area, and transport implications early. Where distance is relevant, use the FindMySchoolMap Search to understand your likely position relative to recent cut-offs, while remembering that cut-offs can move each year depending on who applies.

Reception admissions are coordinated by Essex County Council. For September 2026 entry, Essex states that applications open on 10 November 2025 and close on 15 January 2026, with offers released on 16 April 2026.

Demand is high relative to the school’s small intake. Recent primary entry demand data indicates 33 applications for 4 offers, around 8.25 applications per place, and the school is classed as oversubscribed. In addition, Essex’s Mid Essex admissions directory lists a published admission number of 12 for 2026 to 2027, alongside 33 applications received for September 2025 preferences.

Oversubscription criteria follow the standard structure used widely in Essex: looked-after and previously looked-after children, then siblings, then priority admission area, then remaining applications, with straight-line distance as the tie-breaker within a criterion.

The school also offers prospective parent tours during the school day, typically around 20 minutes, and where possible led by the headteacher, with time for questions at the end.

Safeguarding is described as effective in the latest Ofsted report. Staff training, prompt follow-up on concerns, and clear mechanisms for pupils to raise worries are all referenced as established practice.

Personal development is framed around healthy relationships, mental wellbeing, and respect for diversity. This is also consistent with SIAMS evidence that highlights inclusion, mental health awareness, and a strong culture of reconciliation. The practical implication is that pastoral expectations are not separate from learning expectations, they are threaded through daily routines and behaviour norms.

SEND support is clearly signposted on the school website, including the named Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO). The school’s own SEND information report frames inclusion as integral, with a focus on helping pupils engage with a broad curriculum.

A small school lives or dies by whether it can offer enough breadth. Here, the evidence suggests it can.

Forest School is built into the experience for pupils, with school communications describing sessions led by a qualified leader, Mrs Cannon, and planned across year groups. For many children, this provides a different route into confidence and language, particularly for pupils who thrive in practical, outdoor learning contexts.

After-school clubs are unusually specific for a school of this size. The Autumn Term 2025 club list includes Film Club (KS1), Times Tables Club (KS2), Choir (Years 1 to 6), Multi Sports (Years 1 to 6), French Club (Years 1 to 6), Homework Club, Music Appreciation Club, and Yoga and Meditation (KS2). This matters because it signals a deliberate plan to offer both enrichment and targeted academic support, not just sport.

Pupil responsibility is also part of the culture. The latest Ofsted report describes older pupils acting as sports ambassadors who organise play equipment at breaktimes, and notes that pupils represent the school at sporting and music events and take on positions of responsibility. In a small school, these roles can be genuinely meaningful, because there are fewer layers between pupil voice and adult decision-making.

The 2025 to 2026 brochure sets out a clear weekly rhythm. The school day runs 08:10 to 15:15 Monday to Thursday, and 08:10 to 12:20 on Friday.

Wraparound care is a key consideration for working families. The school states it does not currently offer wraparound care, and it signposts families towards external local providers instead.

For travel, most families will be car-dependent given the village location, though Ingatestone is the nearest obvious rail hub for wider commuting. For day-to-day practicality, ask on tours about drop-off arrangements, parking expectations, and walking routes that are safest for younger pupils.

• Very small scale. With a capacity of 84 pupils and mixed-age class structures, the experience can feel supportive and personal, but it also means fewer same-age peers in each year group than families may be used to.

• High competition for places. A published admission number of 12 for 2026 to 2027 combined with strong application volumes makes admission the main constraint, particularly for families outside the priority admissions area.

• Wraparound care is not currently offered. Families needing breakfast and after-school provision will need to secure external childcare solutions.

• SEND target precision is an improvement focus. The latest Ofsted report highlights that for a small number of pupils with SEND, targets have not always been precise enough and review processes have not always been swift, which can affect how tightly support is matched.

For families who want a small, values-led Church of England primary with exceptionally strong KS2 outcomes, this is a compelling option. The combination of top-tier results, a clearly articulated ethos, and a breadth of clubs that is unusually specific for a school of this size makes it feel carefully designed rather than merely cosy. Best suited to families who value close relationships, structured learning, and a faith-informed culture, and who are realistic about admissions competition and childcare logistics.