PrimaryState · Voluntary controlled school

Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Birchwood, Birchanger, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 5QL ·

Report card: expected standard· 2026Church of England

At a glance

A state Church of England primary school for ages 4–11 in Bishop's Stortford. Ofsted report card (April 2026): expected standard. Year 6 SATs results are around the England average (64% met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths vs 62%, 2024/25). 10 families put it first for 10 places (September 2026 entry).

Ages: 4–11
Pupils: 93
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: No
Admissions: Non-selective
Local authority: Essex
Headteacher: Mrs Sharon Vessey

School website 01279812362 Explore the area

Inspection

Ofsted report card (renewed framework)

Read reports

Inspected 28 Apr 2026Published 16 Jun 2026

SafeguardingMet
InclusionExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
Personal development and well-beingExpected standard
Early yearsExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Report cards grade each area separately on a five-point scale, from Urgent improvement to Exceptional. There is no single overall grade, and results are not directly comparable with earlier grades such as “Good”.

Inspection reports describe the school on the day. Read the full report and visit the school before deciding.

Exam results

Department for Education performance tables

Year 6 pupils, 2024/25 · 11 pupils

Expected standard

64%

Reading, writing & maths

Higher standard

Reading, writing & maths

Reading score

104

Average scaled score

Maths score

104

Average scaled score

This school

64%

Essex

63%

England

62%

Expected standard over time

Small year group: with few pupils, results can swing a lot from year to year. Look at several years together.

KS2 tests were not held in 2019/20 or 2020/21. Progress scores are not available from 2024/25.

Admissions

Demand for places and how places are allocated

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Reception entry, September 2026 (national offer day data)

Offers made

1st preferences

All applications

1st prefs per place

1.00

Fewer first choices than places

10 of 10 first-preference applicants were offered a place (100%). 2 offers went to families living in another council area.

Catchment area

We don't have an official catchment boundary for this school. Many schools don't have one, and few councils publish boundaries as open data. We don't estimate catchments. Check the school's admissions policy or the council's admissions booklet.

Last distance offered

Not published nationally. Many councils publish the furthest distance offered for each school in their annual allocation reports. Past distances vary year to year with demand and sibling numbers, so they are not a guarantee.

How places are allocated: you apply through your home council. When a school has more applicants than places, it applies its published oversubscription criteria in order. These usually start with looked-after children, then siblings, then catchment or distance; faith schools may prioritise church attendance. Children with an EHC plan naming the school are admitted first. Apply on GOV.UK

Pupils

School census 2024/25

Pupils

Capacity

117

79% full

Girls / boys

44/56

Mixed

Eligible for free school meals (last 6 years)12.4%
English as an additional language11.3%
SEN support3.1%
Education, Health and Care plan2.1%
The black tick shows the median for state-funded primary schools in England.