St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford
Chelmsford, CM1 4BS · Essex · secondary school
20th of 78 secondary schools in Essex we can score, 81 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 875 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.1/10 among them, against 6.4/10 nationally. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.81 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2024/25 | 50.8 · 67 | 30% | 2.00 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.1 · 57 | 25% | 1.43 |
| Attainment 8 2024/25 | 49.9 · 70 | 10% | 0.70 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Get to know the school
How it's doing. In 2024/25, 50.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 49.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.1 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.1 out of 10 among them, against 6.4 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Good in July 2024.
Beyond the classroom. Pupils participate in football, rugby, cricket, basketball, dance, netball, gymnastics, and orienteering. Trips include a Year 7 visit to Ingatestone Hall, a Year 8 trip to the Chelmsford Skills Festival, and a Year 9 D Of E practice expedition.
Getting in. The school has 1241 pupils in a capacity of 1220, meaning it is over capacity by 21. The school is over its stated capacity, so places are competitive.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school manage the pressure of being over capacity for new admissions? What support is available for pupils who need to close the gap between their progress and the national median? How does the school ensure all students have access to the wide range of sports and trips offered?
Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.
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.
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