St Anne's Catholic Primary School

About St Anne's Catholic Primary School

St Anne's Catholic Primary School in Reading is a smaller than average primary, with 160 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210. That spare capacity might seem surprising given the school is clearly popular: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 42 applications for just 18 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.33. Sixteen of those applications were first preferences, and 16 first-preference offers were made, meaning every family who put it top got a place. The school serves a community with a higher than average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals, at 23.8%, compared with the national primary average of around 23%. As a Roman Catholic voluntary-aided school, it admits children from the age of two through its nursery provision, and the headteacher is Bridget Tobin. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in November 2024, confirmed that standards are being maintained, building on the Good rating it received in its previous graded inspection in 2015.

Academically, the picture is mixed. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 tests, 46% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the Reading local authority average of 61%. The school ranks 36th out of 40 primary schools in the borough on this measure, placing it in the bottom tier nationally. However, individual subject scores tell a more nuanced story: 79% of pupils met the expected standard in maths, and 75% in reading, both respectable figures. Writing was weaker, with only 54% reaching the expected level. At the higher standard, 21% achieved in maths and 17% in reading, but no pupils reached the higher threshold in writing or across all three subjects combined. The school's Progress 8 scores are not available, so it's hard to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils' starting points, but the raw outcomes suggest a school where maths and reading are relative strengths.

Parents are overwhelmingly positive. In the most recent Parent View survey, 97% of the 31 respondents would recommend the school, and 74% strongly agreed that their child is happy. The school offers a range of facilities including a library, gymnasium, sensory room, chapel and playing fields, plus clubs in drama, gardening and art. Sports on offer include football, cricket, cross country and swimming. The school has identified SEND provisions covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support, though no parents responded to the SEND question in the survey. For Catholic families in Reading, St Anne's is a clear first-choice school, but its below-average KS2 outcomes mean it may not suit families prioritising top-tier academic results. The nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is Emmer Green Primary School, 1.7 km away.

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