English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School

English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School continues to demonstrate strong performance as a good school. Pupils appreciate the supportive environment instilled by the school’s Catholic ethos and are encouraged to excel academically while developing their personal values. The staff are noted for their patience and kindness, contributing to a nurturing atmosphere where students feel safe and cared for. The curriculum is evolving, with successful implementation in core subjects, particularly in mathematics, reflecting impactful teaching methods and an engaging classroom environment. However, there are areas that require improvement, specifically in ensuring consistency in the delivery of the phonics program and enhancing the detail in some foundation subject schemes of work. Inconsistencies in phonics teaching can hinder some pupils' reading fluency, which indicates a need for improved staff training and curriculum development. Overall, the school's commitment to meeting the diverse needs of its pupils and maintaining high expectations is commendable, positioning it well for further progress.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe and cared for.
• Teachers are patient and kind, fostering a supportive environment.
• Strong emphasis on personal development and charitable activities.
• Effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND.
• High-quality teaching in mathematics leads to strong outcomes.
• A varied ethnic mix among pupils contributes to an inclusive environment.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent delivery of the phonics program affects reading fluency.
• Some foundation subject schemes lack detail, impacting curriculum progression.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School attended 94.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 16.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.7% of pupils at English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School had 20.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 21.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 15.9% of pupils at English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School received £7,180 and spent £7,480 for each of its 399 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £46,000 (£116 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
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What is English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School is Good, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School have?

English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School has 408 pupils on roll.

What age range does English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School cover?

English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 65% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School?

English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School is at Dee Road, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire, RG30 4BE.