SchoolScoresJohn Ray Infant School
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 7 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of THE COMPASS PARTNERSHIP OF SCHOOLS
Notley Road, Braintree, CM7 1HL
01376 323071 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 14 October 2010. 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.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 14 November 2019: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
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 offered | 90 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 89 |
| Of those, offered a place | 88 (99%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 153 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Higher than 55% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.8% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 11th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Higher than 36% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.4% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support Joint 7th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Higher than 60% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.8% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 9th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Higher than 51% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.1% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 12th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Lower than 42% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.3% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 14th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Lower than 30% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.5% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 8th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Lower than 66% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 8th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Lower than 65% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Higher than 76% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.9 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 13th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Higher than 48% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.6 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 16 state primary schools in Braintree. Higher than 76% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 21.0% | 13.5%* | 14.4%* |
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; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- John Ray Junior School 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Notley Green Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), improved significantly 2024 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- White Court School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Beckers Green Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- John Bunyan Primary School and Nursery 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Great Bradfords Junior School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Great Bradfords Infant and Nursery School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011), confirmed 2022
- Lyons Hall School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is John Ray Infant School's Ofsted rating?
John Ray Infant School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 14 October 2010. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 14 November 2019, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Is John Ray Infant School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 89 families put John Ray Infant School as their first choice for 90 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 88 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 150501.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.