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St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Voluntary aided

Patching Hall Lane, Chelmsford CM1 4BS · sjp.essex.sch.uk · 01245 256030

On the mapSearch near CM1 4BS

Overview

Ofsted
Remains Good
Ungraded inspection · Jun 2024
GCSEs, 2024/25
49.9
average Attainment 8 score. Essex 45.1, England 46
Demand for places
1.0
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,241
21 over 1,220 places · 102%
Local authority
Essex
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
16.7%
First language not English
10.6%
School census 2025/26

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 187 families put the school first and 182 places were offered; 71% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 210 (Places 190)210September 2023: 159 (Places 188)159September 2024: 178 (Places 185)178September 2025: 176 (Places 182)176September 2026: 187 (Places 182)187Places 182
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261821871▲71%
September 2025Sept 2025182176177%
September 2024Sept 2024185178176%
September 2023Sept 20231881590.891%
September 2022Sept 20221902101.1▲78%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 49.9, and 50.8% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Essex it was 45.1, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (32.7 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 47.4 (England 46.3)47.42017/18: 51.3 (England 46.5)51.32018/19: 51.4 (England 46.7)51.42021/22: 54.3 (England 48.8)54.32022/23: 48.1 (England 46.3)48.12023/24: 49.8 (England 45.9)49.82024/25: 49.9 (England 46.0)49.9England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲49.946.0
▲50.8%45.4%
▲76.2%64.8%
▼10.1%40.5%
●4.124.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form66.1+1.7
Sixth form college3.1+2.1
Further education23.4−1.2
Apprenticeship1−0.6
Employment1.60
Not in a lasting destination3.1−1.6
Activity not captured1.6−0.5

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 32.1 (England 30.5)C+2016/17: 29.3 (England 31.1)C2017/18: 33.9 (England 32.1)C+2018/19: 34.1 (England 32.9)C+2021/22: 37.4 (England 37.9)B-2022/23: 35.6 (England 34.2)B-2023/24: 34.1 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 32.7 (England 35.0)C+England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
102 studentsC+ (32.7)Above average +0.14
102 studentsC+ (32.7)Above average +0.14
29 studentsDist (34.3)Above average +0.30
11.4%AAB or better
98.8%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24115C+ (34.1)-0.10
2022/23111B- (35.6)—
2021/22119B- (37.4)—
2018/1997C+ (34.1)+0.12
2017/1899C+ (33.9)+0.16
2016/17110C (29.3)+0.03
2015/1699C+ (32.1)+0.38

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University68.7+4.2
Other education2.6—
Apprenticeship3.5+0.2
Employment17.4−4.9
Not in a lasting destination4.3−4.8
Activity not captured3.5+2.7

Ofsted

At an ungraded inspection on 20 June 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford was: School remains Good.

Outcome
Remains Good
Inspected
19 Jun 2024
Ungraded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Oct 2019

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Oct 2019Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Jan 2016Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesOutstanding
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Nov 2011Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesOutstanding

What parents said

91% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (148 replies, to 7 April 2025).

Recommend
91%
Replies
148
13% · 7 Apr 2025
Child is happy at school▲92% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▲94% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▲92% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▲91% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well●90% agreeEngland 88%
Told what child will learn▼80% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing▲92% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects▲95% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▲94% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▲85% agreeEngland 80%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲88% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 78% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲73% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 45% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▲77% agreeEngland 68%

based on 36 parents (24%) with SEND

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