Best Primary Schools in Essex 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 444 schools across Essex. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Essex has 444 primary schools, of which 39 (9%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted and a further 383 rated Good — 95% of primary schools in Essex are rated Good or Outstanding overall. St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Weald currently leads the local rankings on our composite SNM Score.

Application deadlines in Essex follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry. Offers go out on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

444
Total schools
39
Outstanding
9%
Outstanding rate
63.9%
Avg KS2 SATs
42.2
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted SNM Score
🥇 St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Weald
Primary
 Outstanding 97 View school
🥈 St Peter's Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 96 View school
🥉 Quilters Infant School
Primary
 Outstanding 95 View school
4. The Wickford Church of England School
Primary
 Outstanding 95 View school
5. Lakelands Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 95 View school
6. St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester
Primary
 Outstanding 94 View school
7. Shenfield St. Mary's Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 94 View school
8. Perryfields Junior School
Primary
 Outstanding 93 View school
9. Kingston Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 93 View school
10. Hereward Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 93 View school
11. Chancellor Park Primary School, Chelmsford
Primary
 Outstanding 91 View school
12. Quilters Junior School
Primary
 Outstanding 90 View school
13. Hare Street Community Primary School and Nursery
Primary
 Outstanding 90 View school
14. Lee Chapel Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 90 View school
15. Stambridge Primary School
Primary
 Good 90 View school
16. R A Butler Junior School
Primary
 Outstanding 89 View school
17. Lift Hockley
Primary
 Outstanding 88 View school
18. St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch
Primary
 Good 87 View school
19. Buttsbury Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 87 View school
20. St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Saffron Walden
Primary
 Good 87 View school

Related lists for Essex

All schools in EssexPrimary & secondary combined Secondary schools in EssexYear 7 onwards Outstanding schools in Essex39 schools rated Outstanding

See full data for any school in Essex

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

Search schools in Essex

Frequently asked questions

How many primary schools are there in Essex?
There are 444 primary schools in Essex, of which 39 (9%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
What are the best schools in Essex?
Based on our composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance and class sizes, the top school in Essex is St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Weald. See the full ranked list above.
How do I apply for a school place in Essex?
Primary and secondary school applications in Essex are managed by the Local Authority. Applications for secondary places typically open in September for the following academic year. Visit the Essex council website for application forms and deadlines.
What is the average Ofsted rating in Essex?
9% of primary schools in Essex are rated Outstanding and 86% are rated Good. 79.3% are rated Good or Outstanding.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.