Primary Schools in Saffron Walden

[KindSwan]

Hi, we are moving to a village in Saffron Walden and about to apply for primary schools.
Does anyone know much about the local schools? Which would be better for a shy child in particular? Im mainly considering St Thomas More, St Marys and Great Chesterford Primary.
Any advice would be so helpful
Thanks!

You may already have got this far, but this is where you can look up what your Priority Admissions Area school would be (if your new address is actually in a PAA, not all are, especially if a new build)
https://secureapps.essex.gov.uk/cas/index

It doesn't guarantee a place at that school, but will help inform you as to under which criterion your DC would be ranked. Obviously, if you come under one of the - higher - 'religion' criteria for a faith school, that's different, but if you don't, you will probably be ranked as 'all other applicants' for everywhere except your PAA school.

Also this booklet shows how many applications in total (all preferences) each school received for the current year of entry, and the criterion under which the last place was offered.
https://www.essex.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-09/Primary_Education%20Policy%20Directory%202026-27_West.pdf

Of the schools you mention, only Great Chesterford received fewer applications in total than there were places available. However, for 2024 entry, it received 47 applications (all prefs) and the last offer was made under criterion 7 of 9.

The other two received more applications in total than twice PAN in both years.

@MarchingFrogs thank you so much for your reply, thats all very helpful information!