St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree
Braintree, CM7 2SY · Essex · primary school
Check the area around this school
38th 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 — 9.1/10 against 4,194 of them, against 9.0/10 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) 2024/25 | 83.0 · 92 | 40% | 3.67 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 17.0 · 87 | 25% | 2.18 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 83.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 17.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2024. 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 (9.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 9.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
A breakfast club is available for pupils.
Getting in
The published school roll is 203 pupils against a stated capacity of 210. 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 expected standard in maths? What specific activities are included in the breakfast club? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating in the coming years?
What Ofsted said about St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree
Overview
St Francis Catholic Primary School is described as an inclusive environment where pupils are happy, feel valued, and behave very well. The report states that the school provides a rich and broad curriculum, with leaders systematically improving subject content to help pupils make connections between different areas of learning.
Strengths
- Pupils are "happy" and "proud to talk about the values and virtues they learn," contributing positively to the community.
- The reading curriculum is "successful," with staff well trained in phonics, enabling pupils to "quickly develop fluency in their reading."
- Children in the early years "make a positive start to school," rapidly building mathematical understanding and language skills.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive "strong support," ensuring they are included and given the best chance to succeed.
- Governors "hold leaders to account and fulfil their statutory duties effectively," while staff feel valued and supported.
Areas to improve
- Teachers should ensure learning is "consistently tailored to build on pupils’ existing knowledge" so pupils can move on to more complex content when ready, rather than being set work that is too easy.
- The school should "expand the range of extra-curricular activities" to better nurture pupils’ interests and talents, as the current limited number of clubs restricts this development.
- Leaders must ensure that checks on attendance, behaviour, and welfare are "recorded in detail" and used to inform actions, as current tracking is not always effective.
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 | 59% |
| 2023/24 | 89% |
| 2024/25 | 83% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 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
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of CM7 2SY, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT