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OpenSecondaryOfsted: School remains GoodURN 115238

St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford

Voluntary aided school · Chelmsford · CM1 4BS

Ages 11–18 · 1,241 pupils · Essex

School website

Ofsted

School remains Good

Attainment 8

49.8

Overall absence

6.7%

Admissions demand

1.01 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

School remains Good

Inspection date

2024-07-14

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+0.10
−20+2
Attainment 849.8
English & maths grade 5+51%
English & maths grade 4+75%
EBacc entry10%

EBacc APS: 4.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence6.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)14.2%
Unauthorised1.9%
Authorised absence
4.8%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.1%
Enrolments in measure
978

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.01 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

178

Places offered

185

1st-preference offers

136

Total preferences (any rank)
607
Preferred offers (top 3)
185
Applications from outside LA
1
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill102%

1,241 pupils · 1,220 places

Pupils on roll
1,241
Boys / girls
628 / 613
School capacity
1,220
Capacity fill
1,241 / 1,220 (102%)
Free school meals
16.7%
FSM pupils
159
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary aided school

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Diocese of Brentwood
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary aided school
Headteacher
Mr Thomas Coen

Location

Address
Patching Hall Lane
Postcode
CM1 4BS
Town
Chelmsford
County
Essex
Local authority
Essex
District
Chelmsford
Constituency
Chelmsford
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed voluntary aided school (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Chelmsford, Essex, 1,241 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 16.7%. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Diocese of Brentwood.

Open schools in Chelmsford
84
Secondary schools in Chelmsford
10
Academies among open schools in Chelmsford
48% (40)
Open schools in CM1
33
Secondary in CM1
6
Open schools in Essex LA
612
Secondary in Essex LA
79

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in ChelmsfordNear CM1

  • The Boswells School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Chelmsford · CM1 6LY · Essex

    Ages 11–18

    • Att846.4
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+48%
    • Absence9.6%

    1.2 miles away

  • Chelmer Valley High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Chelmsford · CM1 7ER · Essex

    Ages 11–18

    • Att846.2
    • P80.3
    • EM5+42%
    • Absence6.5%

    1.4 miles away

  • Hylands School

    Ofsted: Urgent improvement

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Chelmsford · CM1 3ET · Essex

    Ages 11–18

    • Att832.6
    • P8-0.9
    • EM5+25%
    • Absence12.7%

    1.9 miles away

  • Moulsham High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Chelmsford · CM2 9ES · Essex

    Ages 11–18

    • Att856.4
    • P80.7
    • EM5+63%
    • Absence5.5%

    2.3 miles away

  • Great Baddow High School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Chelmsford · CM2 9RZ · Essex

    Ages 11–18

    • Att848.1
    • P80.0
    • EM5+47%
    • Absence6.6%

    2.8 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Thomas Coen
Telephone
01245256030
Website
www.sjp.essex.sch.uk

Official links