St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood

St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School is a large primary school that has recently undergone an amalgamation of its infant and junior schools. Inspectors found that pupils achieve highly, with strong progress for those with SEND and vulnerable pupils, and that inclusion is a notable strength. Personal development and wellbeing are also strong, with pupils demonstrating confidence, responsibility, and a deep understanding of values and healthy relationships. The early years provides a positive start, and leadership has successfully managed the amalgamation and invested in staff development. However, the quality of education is not yet consistently strong across all areas. In a few subjects, some teachers do not check pupils' understanding closely enough or address misconceptions, which slows progress for some pupils. Attendance is broadly in line with national averages but persistent absence remains a focus for improvement. Disadvantaged pupils' outcomes, while improving, are still below national averages in some combined measures. Leaders are aware of these areas and have already taken steps to address them, but further work is needed to ensure consistency and to strengthen communication with a small number of parents who have concerns. The school has a clear understanding of its strengths and areas for development, and governors provide effective support and challenge. Staff feel well supported, and pupils are proud of their school. Overall, this is a school performing well with strong foundations and a clear capacity to improve further.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve highly and develop detailed knowledge and skills across the curriculum.
• Pupils with SEND and vulnerable pupils make rapid progress from their starting points.
• Phonics outcomes are strong.
• Pupils recall past knowledge well and make strong cross-curricular links.
• Most pupils have strong foundations in reading, writing, and mathematics.
• Leaders identify pupils' needs accurately and provide timely, well-matched support.
• The personal development programme is a strength, promoting positive relationships and understanding of diversity.
• Pupils demonstrate a strong understanding of values, fundamental British values, and different faiths.
• Pastoral support and relationships/health education are highly effective.
• Pupils behave well, and attendance systems have reduced persistent absence over time.
• The curriculum is well sequenced, and recent changes to spelling and phonics have improved consistency.
• Early years provides a positive start, with communication and language at the centre.
• Leaders successfully led the amalgamation and established a shared vision.
• Leaders invest in staff expertise, and staff feel supported.
• Governors fulfil their statutory duties effectively.
• Pupils are highly responsible, confident, and proud of their school.

Areas for Improvement

• In some subjects, teachers do not consistently check pupils' understanding or address misconceptions, slowing progress.
• Not all teachers use the full range of teaching approaches that leaders have identified.
• Persistent absence remains a focus, and leaders should continue to review attendance strategies.
• Disadvantaged pupils' outcomes are below national averages in some combined measures.
• Communication with families needs further strengthening, as a small number of parents raise concerns.

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 St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood attended 94.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.8% 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, 1.0% of pupils at St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood 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 St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood had 21.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.6% 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, 12.2% of pupils at St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.1% 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 St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood received £6,436 and spent £6,495 for each of its 510 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £284,000 (£556 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).

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What is St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood is Expected standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood last inspected by Ofsted?

St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood have?

St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood has 510 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood cover?

St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood?

St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood is at Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9BX.