St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Braintree, CM7 2NS · Essex · primary school
Check the area around this school
295th 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.
Narrow the comparison to the 3,510 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.2/10 among them, against 3.7/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 52.0 · 22 | 62% | 1.36 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 9.0 · 61 | 38% | 2.36 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 52.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. A higher 9.0% achieved the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.2 out of 10 among them, against 3.7 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 387 pupils against a stated capacity of 420. 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 are below the expected standard in core subjects? What specific steps are taken to help students progress to the higher standard? How does the school manage class sizes to ensure individual attention for each child?
What Ofsted said about St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Overview
Pupils are “happy and proud” of their school, benefiting from a “full range of subjects” and high expectations for behaviour. While recent governance changes have stabilised leadership, the report notes this is a “temporary” arrangement, and leadership and management requires improvement.
Strengths
- Pupils display “polite, kind and courteous” behaviour and feel confident that staff will help resolve issues.
- The curriculum in core subjects like English, mathematics, and science features “well-structured teaching that deepens their understanding.”
- Reading is a high priority, with a “consistently implemented” phonics programme and skilled questioning building fluency.
- Children in Reception get a “strong start” through play-based learning in “well-resourced classrooms.”
- Provision for pupils with SEND is “inclusive and adaptive,” with effective support from external agencies.
Areas to improve
- Governance remains at an “early stage”; leaders must build capacity to form an “effective governing body” for strategic direction.
- The school lacks “sufficiently robust” checks on curriculum implementation, meaning leaders do not know if improvements are meeting all pupils’ needs.
- Communication with staff and parents is “not always clear or consistent,” creating uncertainty about how families can support learning at home.
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 | 66% |
| 2023/24 | 61% |
| 2024/25 | 52% |
| 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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