St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford

St John Payne Catholic School in Chelmsford continues to demonstrate good performance, characterized by a supportive atmosphere where pupils feel safe and valued. The school places a high emphasis on well-being and encourages students to take on leadership roles, engage in community service, and participate in a variety of extracurricular activities. The curriculum is broad, with clear planning that facilitates effective learning, particularly for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Strong relationships between staff and students contribute to a positive learning environment, encouraging resilience and confidence among learners. While the school has many strengths, there are areas for improvement as well. Some teachers do not consistently maintain high expectations of pupils in certain subjects, leading to gaps in knowledge and lower achievement. Additionally, the school's careers education and guidance program lacks sufficient opportunities for students to engage with employers and experience the world of work, which limits their understanding of potential career pathways. Overall, the school is on a positive trajectory, with leaders actively seeking to address these concerns.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy exemplary support from staff.
• Strong relationships exist between staff and pupils.
• The school promotes a positive and safe environment.
• High priority is placed on pupil well-being.
• Students have access to a broad curriculum with clear planning.
• Teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge.
• Pupils are encouraged to read widely and engage in diverse texts.
• The school successfully adapts work for pupils with SEND.
• Leaders maintain high expectations for pupil behavior.
• Pupils value diversity and inclusivity in the school community.

Areas for Improvement

• Some teachers have low expectations for pupil achievement in certain subjects.
• Limited opportunities for high-quality career encounters with employers.
• Inconsistencies in following the behavior policy among some staff.

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 John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford attended 93.9% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 14.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

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, 4.1% of pupils at St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 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 John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford had 19.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 9.3% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

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, 6.8% of pupils at St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 2.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

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 secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford received £7,229 and spent £7,192 for each of its 1,244 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,793,000 (£1,441 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
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Chelmsford · Essex local authority: places and applications

What is St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford is Good, from an inspection in July 2024.

When was St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford last inspected by Ofsted?

St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford was last inspected in July 2024.

How many pupils does St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford have?

St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford has 1,241 pupils on roll.

What age range does St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford cover?

St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 48.7, and 46% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford?

St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford is at Patching Hall Lane, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 4BS.