St Helen's Catholic Junior School
Brentwood, CM15 9BY · Essex · primary school
Check the area around this school
41st 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 — 8.8/10 against 4,199 of them, against 8.9/10 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 | 78.0 · 84 | 40% | 3.36 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 27.0 · 97 | 25% | 2.42 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Helen's Catholic Junior School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 78.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 27.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in November 2023. 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 (8.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 8.9 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils take part in residential trips, including Year 6 at Liddington Hall and Year 5 at Stubbers.
Getting in
The published school roll is 344 pupils against a stated capacity of 338. 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 curriculum support pupils who have already reached the higher standard in maths? What does a typical day look like for Year 6 students preparing for their residential trip?
What Ofsted said about St Helen's Catholic Junior School
Overview
St Helen’s Catholic Junior School continues to be a good school, characterised by an "inclusive, welcoming ethos" where pupils are "settled and happy." The report highlights that pupils "love their school," demonstrating "impeccable" conduct and a strong desire to learn within a supportive community.
Strengths
- Pupils exhibit high standards of behaviour, willingly following a policy they perceive as fair, with incidents being "usually minor" and "quickly addressed."
- The curriculum has seen "rapid and substantial improvements," with most subjects offering logical learning steps that help pupils "retain important knowledge."
- Reading is a high priority; staff ensure pupils know the sounds needed for fluency, resulting in most pupils reading "confidently and widely."
- Teachers possess "strong subject knowledge," using effective questioning and checks to ensure pupils "recall what they have learned" before progressing.
- Pupils with SEND are "well supported" to access the same "demanding curriculum" as their peers, with needs accurately identified and met.
Areas to improve
- In a few subjects, curriculum plans do not "identify precisely enough the small steps of knowledge" or how these lead to complex understanding, meaning pupils’ learning "does not grow in depth" and they "do not retain what they have been taught."
Safeguarding
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 | 74% |
| 2023/24 | 84% |
| 2024/25 | 78% |
| 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
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