Voluntary aided school · Essex

St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree

4–11Ages
203Pupils
PrimaryPhase
CatholicReligious character
115194URN

Gilchrist Way, Gilchrist Way, Braintree, CM7 2SY · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2024 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.9per place

0.5 below Essex median (2.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Essex

52 applications for 28 places · 277th of 363 in Essex

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

83%met the expected standard

Essex 66% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 25 June 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.9applications per place, Reception

0.5 below Essex median (2.4) 0.3 below England median (2.2)

52 applications · 28 places offered · 23 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 1.9; Essex median median 2.4
2025 2.0; Essex median median 2.4
2024 2.1; Essex median median 2.4
2023 1.9; Essex median median 2.4
2022 1.9; Essex median median 2.4
2021 2.2; Essex median median 2.3
2020 2.1; Essex median median 2.4
2019 2.2; Essex median median 2.5
2018 1.6; Essex median median 2.5
2017 3.5; Essex median median 2.6
2016 2.7; Essex median median 2.8
2015 2.7; Essex median median 2.7
2014 3.2; Essex median median 2.8

This school
Essex median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	28	52	1.9	23	0.82
Sep 2025	23	47	2.0	23	1.00
Sep 2024	30	62	2.1	30	1.00
Sep 2023	30	56	1.9	32	1.07
Sep 2022	23	43	1.9	23	1.00
Sep 2021	21	46	2.2	20	0.95
Sep 2020	30	62	2.1	28	0.93
Sep 2019	30	65	2.2	28	0.93
Sep 2018	30	47	1.6	29	0.97
Sep 2017	30	105	3.5	41	1.37
Sep 2016	30	80	2.7	38	1.27
Sep 2015	30	80	2.7	32	1.07
Sep 2014	30	95	3.2	44	1.47

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 93% · Writing 90% · Maths 90% → all three 83% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard83%30th of 387 in Essex

Essex 66% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard93%

Essex 79% England 78%

Higher standard50%

Essex 33% England 33%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard90%

Essex 76% England 75%

Greater depth27%

Essex 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard90%

Essex 78% England 77%

Higher standard30%

Essex 24% England 24%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Essex median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	83%	17%	107	107
2023/24	89%	21%	110	108
2022/23	59%	10%	103	102

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St Francis Catholic Primary School, BraintreeThis school
This school

Good2024

1.9applications per place 83%met the SATs standard
John Bunyan Primary School and Nursery
0.4 km · Essex

Remains Good2024

1.4applications per place 55%met the SATs standard
St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
0.8 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.0applications per place 52%met the SATs standard
Great Bradfords Junior School
1.3 km · Essex

Standards maintained2025

56%met the SATs standard
Great Bradfords Infant and Nursery School
1.3 km · Essex

Remains Good2022

2.0applications per place
John Ray Junior School
1.8 km · Essex

Standards maintained2025

62%met the SATs standard
John Ray Infant School
1.8 km · Essex

Remains Good2019

1.7applications per place
Lyons Hall School
2.2 km · Essex

Good2022

1.8applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
Notley Green Primary School
2.3 km · Essex

Improved significantly2024

3.0applications per place 66%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Voluntary aided school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 115194 · 881/3790
Religious character: Catholic
Capacity: 210 pupils · 203 on roll
Free school meals: 11.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Gilchrist Way, Gilchrist Way, Braintree, CM7 2SY
Local authority: Essex · Braintree

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources