Holy Family Catholic Primary School

About Holy Family Catholic Primary School

Holy Family Catholic Primary School in Braintree stands out clearly against the Essex local authority average for primary schools. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 74% of its pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a county average of just 62%. That twelve-point gap puts the school in the top 25% nationally for this headline measure, and it ranks 10th out of 46 primary schools in the Braintree district. The school also performs well at the higher standard, with 11% of children achieving greater depth across all three subjects. Reading is a particular strength: 41% of pupils reached the higher standard, and the average reading score was 106. Maths and writing also sit comfortably above national benchmarks, with average maths scores of 104 and 78% of children reaching the expected standard in writing.

The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2022, rated it Good across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This continues a pattern of solid performance, as the previous inspection in 2015 also awarded a Good overall rating. With 198 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, the school is nearly full but not overcrowded. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 21.7%, slightly above the national average, and the school has a published SEND register covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is no nursery provision, and the school does not have a sixth form.

Holy Family is a Roman Catholic state primary for mixed genders from ages 5 to 11, led by headteacher Julia Murray. It was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 69 applications for 30 places, with 26 of those offers going to first-preference families. The oversubscription ratio of 2.3 reflects genuine local demand. Facilities include a gymnasium, sports hall, outdoor playground, sensory room, playing fields and a chapel. The school offers clubs ranging from chess and coding to science, film, eco and art, and sports include gymnastics, swimming, rounders, athletics and netball. For families prioritising strong academic outcomes within a faith-based setting, this school delivers results comfortably above the Essex average, though the nearest Outstanding-rated school, Chipping Hill Primary, is just half a kilometre away for those who might want to compare.

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