Schools by area › Essex › St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree
St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Voluntary aided
Gilchrist Way, Gilchrist Way, Braintree CM7 2SY · stfrancisbraintree.org.uk · 01376 320440
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Jun 2024
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 83%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Essex 63%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- 1.01 mi
- 1.63 km · Reception, September 2025 entry · Essex Council
- Demand for places
- 0.8
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 203
- 97% of 210 places
- Local authority
- Essex
- Nursery class
- No
- Free school meals
- 11.3%
- First language not English
- 24.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2025, the last place offered on distance went to a home 1.01 mi (1.63 km) from the school. Source: Essex Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 23 families put the school first and 28 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 28 | 23 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 23 | 23 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 30 | 30 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 30 | 32 | 1.1▲ | 94% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 23 | 23 | 1 | 100% |
Last distance offered
| Reception | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 1.01 mi1.63 km | |
Results
In 2024/25, 83% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 17% the higher standard. Across Essex it was 63%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲83% | 62% | ||
| ▲17% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●107 | 106 | ||
| ●107 | 105 | ||
| ▲108 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 25 June 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 25 Jun 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Feb 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Feb 2019Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective Nov 2016Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Nov 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
88% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (60 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 88%
- Replies
- 60
- 29% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 72% who raised concerns
based on the 37% who had a child bullied