Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School
100%
Capacity
422
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School
When you compare Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School against the Essex local authority average for Key Stage 2, the numbers are notably stronger. The LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 62%, but at this school that figure jumps to 78%. That’s a solid 16 percentage points above the norm, and it places the school 8th out of 19 primary schools in the Rochford district. Nationally, it ranks in the top 15% of all primary schools on this metric. The school also outperforms on individual subjects: 94% of pupils met the expected standard in maths compared with the national average, and reading scores averaged 108. So while it’s not the very top performer in Essex, it’s comfortably ahead of the pack for its local area.
Digging into the detail, the school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2016 rated it Good overall, with Good marks for leadership, management and early years provision. That rating was confirmed in an ungraded inspection in 2023, meaning the school has held a Good rating across both its recent inspections. Compared with its previous inspection in 2014, when it was rated Requires Improvement, the improvement is clear. At Key Stage 2, 13% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, while 25% hit the higher bar in maths and writing individually, and 38% did so in reading. The school’s Progress 8 scores aren’t available in the data, but the attainment figures alone suggest a school that consistently delivers above the local baseline.
The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 113 applications for 60 places, with 63 first-preference applications and 59 first-preference offers. That ratio of 1.88 applicants per place tells you it’s a popular choice among local families. Facilities include a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, a forest school area, art studios, a library and a chapel, reflecting its Roman Catholic character. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it’s not an especially disadvantaged intake. For families in Rochford who want strong academic outcomes in a faith-based setting, this school is a reliable, well-regarded option.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Little Wheatley Chase, Rayleigh, Rochford, SS6 9EH |
| Headteacher | P Parascandolo |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 422 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 9.0% |
| School Capacity | 422 / 420 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Jan 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (25 Jan 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 13 Jun 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (78%)
2024th of 13,686
Nationally
189th of 1,612
In East of England
8th of 19
In Rochford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
78%
Expected Standard
13%
Higher Standard
'22/23
68%
'23/24
78%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed60
113
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
63 families put this school as their 1st choice (56% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British81.8%
- White (other)4.7%
- Asian4.2%
- Black0.7%
- Mixed0.6%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Little Wheatley Chase, Rayleigh
Rochford, SS6 9EH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School!
Write a Review