SchoolScoresSt Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Catholic
Gilchrist Way, Gilchrist Way, Braintree, CM7 2SY
01376 320440 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 25 June 2024.
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 | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
60 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 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.
| Statement | This school | Braintree | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 5th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Braintree. Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 89% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Braintree. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 90% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 3rd highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Braintree. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 81% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 22 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Braintree. Higher than 72% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64% | 43% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 43 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Braintree. Higher than 58% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 74% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 7th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Braintree. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 79% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
30 pupils in this year group.
83% — 20 points above the Essex average, and 21 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 83% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 17% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 93% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 90% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 90% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 105 |
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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 28 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 23 |
| Of those, offered a place | 23 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 52 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.8
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 Catholic 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 19th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Higher than 14% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.1% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 12th 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 19th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Higher than 6% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.7% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 27.1% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Lower than 95% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.3% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Lower than 93% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.4% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 11th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Lower than 52% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.0 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 10th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Lower than 58% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Higher than 78% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.1 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 7th highest of 19 state primary schools in Braintree. Higher than 84% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.0 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 12th highest of 16 state primary schools in Braintree. Higher than 32% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 7.9% | 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 Bunyan Primary School and Nursery 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Great Bradfords Junior School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Great Bradfords Infant and Nursery School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011), confirmed 2022
- John Ray Junior School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- John Ray Infant School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2010, before conversion), confirmed 2019
- Lyons Hall School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Notley Green Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), improved significantly 2024 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bocking Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Beckers Green Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree's Ofsted rating?
St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 25 June 2024.
How did St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 83% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 21 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree?
88% of the 60 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 23 families put St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree as their first choice for 28 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 23 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 115194.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.