Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy
Braintree, CM7 4LD · Essex · primary school
Check the area around this school
29th of 391 primary schools in Essex we can score, 444 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 9.7/10 against 4,166 of them, against 9.5/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2023/24 | 83.0 · 92 | 40% | 3.67 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2023/24 | 33.0 · 99 | 25% | 2.47 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2023/24, 83.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 63%. The higher standard was reached by 33.0% of pupils, against a national median of 6%. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (9.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 9.5 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2025.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils access a Forest School, a wide range of sports including hockey, football, basketball, netball, tennis, cricket, rounders, and swimming, plus gymnastics and dance. Residential trips go to Mersea and Danbury. Both breakfast and after-school clubs are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 71 pupils against a stated capacity of 84. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who do not reach the higher standard in maths? What does a typical day look like for a child attending the Forest School? How are places allocated if demand exceeds the 84 available spots?
What Ofsted said about Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy
Overview
Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” This ungraded inspection confirms that the school continues to provide a high-quality education, with leaders balancing “high expectations and standards of work with enjoyment and nurture.” The report highlights a joyful environment where pupils feel safe and valued.
Strengths
- Pupils “love coming to their school” and benefit from “warm and respectful relationships” with staff who “concentrate on us as individuals.”
- The curriculum is well-designed, ensuring pupils have a “good depth of knowledge” in most subjects, evidenced by their written work.
- Early years provision is strong, with children in the nursery getting off to a “flying start” and becoming “confident communicators.”
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is effective, allowing them to “learn with their classmates and achieve well.”
- Reading is prioritised successfully, with pupils developing into “enthusiastic, fluent readers” who enjoy a “wide variety of books.”
Areas to improve
- Teachers must ensure learning activities “precisely match pupils’ needs,” as current tasks do not always reflect what some pupils are capable of.
- The school should continue working with parents to address the fact that a “significant minority of pupils are absent from school too often,” missing valuable learning.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 57% |
| 2023/24 | 83% |
| England | 63% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,190 state schools in England we hold a 2023/24 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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