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OpenPrimaryOfsted: Expected standardURN 115127

Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Voluntary controlled school · Bishop's Stortford · CM23 5QL

Ages 4–11 · 93 pupils · Essex

School website

Ofsted

Expected standard

KS2 expected (RWM)

29%

Overall absence

5.4%

Admissions demand

1.00 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Expected standard

Inspection date

2026-04-28

  • AchievementExpected standard
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
  • InclusionExpected standard
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
  • Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Safeguarding standards: Met

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)29%
Higher standard (RWM)0%
Avg scaled score — reading
102.0
Avg scaled score — maths
98.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
103.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence5.4%
Persistent absence (10%+)12.9%
Unauthorised1.5%
Authorised absence
3.8%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.0%
Enrolments in measure
101

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.00 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

10

Places offered

10

1st-preference offers

10

Total preferences (any rank)
39
Preferred offers (top 3)
10
Applications from outside LA
6
Offers to outside-LA applicants
3

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill79%

93 pupils · 117 places

Pupils on roll
93
Boys / girls
52 / 41
School capacity
117
Capacity fill
93 / 117 (79%)
Free school meals
10.8%
FSM pupils
10
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary controlled school

Age range

Ages 4–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Church of England
Diocese
Diocese of Chelmsford
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary controlled school
Headteacher
Mrs Sharon Vessey

Location

Address
Birchwood, Birchanger
Postcode
CM23 5QL
Town
Bishop's Stortford
County
Hertfordshire
Local authority
Essex
District
Uttlesford
Constituency
North West Essex
Urban/rural
Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed voluntary controlled school (primary), Ages 4–11, in Bishop's Stortford, Essex, 93 pupils on roll. Free school meals: 10.8%. Religious character: Church of England. Diocese: Diocese of Chelmsford.

Open schools in Bishop's Stortford
33
Primary schools in Bishop's Stortford
24
Academies among open schools in Bishop's Stortford
36% (12)
Open schools in CM23
26
Primary in CM23
17
Open schools in Essex LA
612
Primary in Essex LA
444

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in Bishop's StortfordNear CM23

  • Summercroft Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Bishop's Stortford · CM23 5BJ · Hertfordshire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS271%
    • Absence4.7%
    • FSM8.0%
    • Demand0.93

    0.9 miles away

  • Avanti Meadows Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Free schools · Primary

    Bishop's Stortford · CM23 1FQ · Hertfordshire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS273%
    • Absence4.6%
    • FSM17.7%
    • Demand1.00

    1.3 miles away

  • Magna Carta Primary Academy

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Free schools · Primary

    Stansted Mountfitchet · CM24 8JP · Essex

    Ages 4–11

    • KS259%
    • Absence2.9%
    • FSM5.2%
    • Demand1.03

    1.3 miles away

  • Thorn Grove Primary School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Community school · Primary

    Bishop's Stortford · CM23 5LD · Hertfordshire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS245%
    • Absence5.7%
    • FSM20.6%
    • Demand0.86

    1.6 miles away

  • Bentfield Primary School and Nursery

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Stansted · CM24 8DX · Essex

    Ages 3–11

    • KS258%
    • Absence5.7%
    • FSM9.0%
    • Demand1.00

    1.7 miles away

  • Windhill21

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy converter · Primary

    Bishop's Stortford · CM23 2NE · Hertfordshire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS270%
    • Absence4.4%
    • FSM11.8%
    • Demand1.02

    1.9 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Sharon Vessey
Telephone
01279812362
Website
www.birchanger.essex.sch.uk

Official links