Several south Essex schools have received new Ofsted ratings in recent months.

And a chunk of primary schools have been handed the top 'good' and 'outstanding' ratings by the education watchdog.

Using Ofsted ratings, we've found all the best rated primary schools in south Essex, including Basildon, Southend, Benfleet, Canvey and Rochford:

Outstanding

  • Greensted Primary School and Nursery, Basildon – last report September 2016
  • Barons Court Primary School and Nursery, Westcliff - last report May 2023
  • Blenheim Primary School, Leigh - last report February 2020 
  • ​West Leigh Junior School - last report December 2021
  • The Pioneer School, Basildon – last report June 2019
  • Quilters Junior School, Billericay - last report April 2017 
  • Quilters Infant School, Billericay - last report December 2018
  • The Phoenix Primary School, Basildon – last report July 2019
  • The Wickford Church of England School – last report December 2013
  • Great Berry Primary School, Basildon – last report January 2021
  • Westwood Academy, Benfleet – last report January 2018
  • Glenwood School, Benfleet – last report December 2018
  • Grove Wood Primary School, Rayleigh – last report July 2017
  • Canvey Junior School – last report March 2019

Good

  • St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Basildon – last report December 2021
  • St Mary's, Prittlewell, CofE Primary School - last report February 2020
  • Down Hall Primary School, Rayleigh - last report May 2020
  • Westerings Primary Academy, Hawkwell - last report July 2023
  • Whitmore Primary School and Nursery, Basildon – last report October 2019
  • Northlands Primary School and Nursery, Basildon – last report July 2019
  • Briscoe Primary School and Nursery Academy, Basildon– last report May 2018
  • Felmore Primary School, Basildon – last report March 2023
  • Eversley Primary School, Basildon – last report January 2020
  • Ryedene Primary and Nursery School, Basildon – last report July 2019
  • Riverside Primary School, Hullbridge - July 2018
  • Ghyllgrove Primary School, Basildon – last report December 2020
  • Kingswood Primary School and Nursery, Basildon – last report June 2018
  • Vange Primary School and Nursery, Basildon – last report January 2023
  • St Anne Line Catholic Infant School, Basildon– last report March 2018
  • Plumberow Primary Academy, Hockley - last report July 2018 
  • St Anne Line Catholic Junior School, Basildon – last report July 2023
  • Castledon School, Wickford – last report January 2019
  • Crays Hill Primary School, Billericay – last report October 2022
  • Laindon Park Primary School & Nursery, Basildon – last report March 2023
  • Grange Primary School, Wickford – last report May 2023
  • Oakfield Primary School, Wickford – last report June 2023
  • Abacus Primary School, Wickford – last report May 2023
  • Millhouse Primary School, Basildon – last report March 2019
  • Wickford Primary School, Wickford – last report March 2023
  • Lincewood Primary School, Basildon – last report March 2023
  • Runwell Community Primary School, Wickford - last report March 2018
  • South Green Infant School , Billericay – last report April 2018
  • St Mary’s, Prittlewell, C of E Primary School – last report February 2020
  • St Helen’s Catholic Primary School, Westcliff – last report March 2023
  • Milton Hall Primary School and Nursery, Westcliff – November 2018
  • Porters Grange Primary School and Nursery, Southend – last report December 2018
  • Earls Hall Primary School, Westcliff – last report July 2018
  • Temple Sutton Primary School, Southend – last report February 2023
  • Prince Avenue Academy and Nursery, Westcliff – last report December 2022
  • Chalkwell Hall Junior School, Leigh - last report May 2023
  • Chalkwell Hall Infant School, Leigh – last report May 2023
  • Greenways Primary School, Southend – last report October 2019
  • Darlinghurst Academy, Leigh – last report July 2019
  • Leigh North Street Primary School, Leigh – May 2022
  • Eastwood Primary School and Nursery – last report July 2023
  • West Leigh Infant School, Leigh – last report November 2018
  • Thundersley Primary School – last report July 2023
  • Cedar Hall School, Benfleet – last report March 2018
  • Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Benfleet – April 2023
  • Montgomerie Primary School, Benfleet – last report April 2023
  • Woodham Ley Primary School, Benfleet – last report May 2023
  • Jotmans Hall Primary School, Benfleet – last report June 2023
  • Kents Hill Junior School, Benfleet - last report September 2017
  • South Benfleet Primary School – last report April 2019
  • Hadleigh Infant and Nursery School – last report March 2020
  • Ryedene Primary and Nursery School, Vange - last report July 2019
  • Edward Francis Primary School, Rayleigh – last report June 2023
  • Canvey Island Infant School – last report November 2019
  • Holt Farm Junior School, Rochford - last report March 2018
  • Holt Farm Infant School, Rochford -  last report May 2023
  • Northwick Park Primary and Nursery Academy – last report July 2023
  • Winter Gardens Academy, Canvey – last report June 2022
  • St Katherine’s Church of England Primary School, Canvey – las report April 2019
  • Lubbins Park Primary Academy, Canvey – last report October 2019
  • Leigh Beck Infant School and Nursery Academy, Canvey – last report April 2018
  • Waterman Primary Academy, Rochford – last report February 2018
  • St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Rochford – last report April 2023
  • Fairways Primary School, Leigh - last report September 2023
  • Hot Farm Junior School, Rochford– last report March 2018
  • Hot Farm Infant School, Rochford – last report May 2023
  • Stambridge Primary School, Rochford – last report February 2018

In June, Ofsted announced changes to improve inspection arrangements and reduce pressures on teachers and school leaders following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.

Ms Perry took her own life in January following a report from the education watchdog which downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating, outstanding, to its lowest, inadequate, over safeguarding concerns.

It said schools judged inadequate on safeguarding grounds only, and which would otherwise have been graded good or outstanding, will be re-visited within three months.