Classpot

John Bunyan Primary School and Nursery

Braintree, CM7 5ULPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2024
KS2 Results
48%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
44 1st-choice / 48 places
Ranking
#11,220
of 13,686 nationally

About John Bunyan Primary School and Nursery

John Bunyan Primary School and Nursery in Braintree is a state-funded, mixed-gender primary for children aged 3 to 11, and it is noticeably oversubscribed. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 84 applications for just 48 places, with 44 of those coming as first preferences, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.75. That demand makes sense when you look at the local picture: the school currently has 545 pupils against a capacity of 630, so it is running at roughly 87% full, leaving some headroom but clearly a popular choice. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 41%, which is significantly above the national average and suggests the school serves a community with higher-than-average levels of economic disadvantage. The school also offers nursery provision, so it can take children from age three, and its religious character is listed as 'does not apply', making it a fully secular option in a borough with a mix of faith and non-faith primaries.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressLancaster Way, JOHN BUNYANPRIMARY, Braintree, Braintree, CM7 5UL
HeadteacherLisa Waters
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils545
Free School Meals (FSM)41.0%
School Capacity545 / 630 (87% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

28 Feb 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (28 Feb 2024): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 23 Apr 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
GymnasiumForest SchoolSports HallMusic RoomsOutdoor PlaygroundPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

TennisAthleticsSwimmingCricketGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

CodingDramaEco ClubGardeningFilm Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning DifficultyProfound Learning

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About John Bunyan Primary School and Nursery

John Bunyan Primary School and Nursery has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.