Schools by area › Essex › The Cathedral Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Chelmsford
The Cathedral Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Chelmsford
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Voluntary aided
Victoria Road, The Cathedral C of E primary, Chelmsford CM1 1PA · cathedralschool.co.uk · 01245 354459
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 74%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Essex 63%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- 0.17 mi
- 0.28 km · Reception, September 2025 entry · Essex Council
- Demand for places
- 1.3
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 314
- 100% of 315 places
- Local authority
- Essex
- Nursery class
- No
- Free school meals
- 7.3%
- First language not English
- 20.7%
- 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 0.17 mi (280 m) from the school. Source: Essex Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 59 families put the school first and 45 places were offered; 66% 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 | 45 | 59 | 1.3▲ | 66% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 45 | 54 | 1.2▲ | 83% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 45 | 49 | 1.1▲ | 84% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 45 | 46 | 1▲ | 87% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 45 | 52 | 1.2▲ | 81% |
Last distance offered
| Reception | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 0.17 mi0.28 km | |
Results
In 2024/25, 74% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 4% 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 | |||
| ▲74% | 62% | ||
| ▼4% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▲110 | 106 | ||
| ▲109 | 105 | ||
| ▲109 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Cathedral Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Chelmsford on 3 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Strong standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Early years: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 3 Mar 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Strong standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Early years | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Nov 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2021Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Mar 2018Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Good Safeguarding Effective Jan 2014Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good May 2009Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
95% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (83 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 95%
- Positive
- 90%
- Replies
- 83
- 27% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 84% who raised concerns
based on 7 parents (8%) whose child was bullied
based on 14 parents (17%) with SEND