Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy

Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class

Part of CANONIUM LEARNING TRUST

Vicarage Road, Finchingfield, Braintree, CM7 4LD

01371 810423 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 30 April 2013, before conversion; confirmed 2024
Pupils71Room for 84 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 42 in 2019, 69 in 2021, 61 in 2022, 56 in 2023, 47 in 2024, 61 in 2025, 71 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.013 for 13 places, September 2026
7th highest of 17 state primary schools in Braintree.
Higher than 52% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 30 April 2013. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 26 November 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

30 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Braintree comparisons use the 11 of its 19 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 8 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolBraintreeEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 1st highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Braintree.
Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 89% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 1st highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Braintree.
Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 90% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
6th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Braintree.
Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
93% 81% 84%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 20 parents who had raised a concern
6th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Braintree.
Higher than 55% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
85% 74% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 3rd highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Braintree.
Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
93%said yes 79% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 49%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Braintree figures pool parents at the Braintree schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

3 pupils in this year group.

Only 3 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths Not published 63% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths Not published 10% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading Not published 77% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing Not published 73% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths Not published 76% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. Not published 106 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. Not published 105 105

"Not published": Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.

Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 57%This school 2023/24: 83% This school England 62% 2022/23 57% 2023/24 83% 2024/25 –

Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Essex. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered13
Families who put it first13
Of those, offered a place13 (100%)
Families who listed it at all23

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Essex

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolEssexEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
18th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree.
Higher than 17% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
9.8% 21.7%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
6th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree.
Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
3.3% 2.9%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
2nd highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree.
Higher than 89% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
22.9% 13.9%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
Joint 18th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree.
Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 12.2%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
15th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree.
Lower than 32% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.7% 5.3%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
15th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree.
Lower than 19% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
18.2% 13.0%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 3.3 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 1.4% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
17th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree.
Higher than 9% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
15.5 21.9 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
18th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree.
Higher than 19% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
8.8 11.3 10.6

Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26.

Nearby primary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 30 April 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 26 November 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.

How did Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy do in its SATs?

DfE didn't publish this figure for 2024/25. Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.

Would parents recommend Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy?

93% of the 30 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 13 families put Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy as their first choice for 13 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 13 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.