St John Fisher Catholic Primary School

About St John Fisher Catholic Primary School

St John Fisher Catholic Primary School in Epping Forest has been rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in September 2018, a clear step up from the Requires improvement rating it received in 2016. The school’s leadership and management, as well as its early years provision, were both judged Good in that inspection. When it comes to academic outcomes at Key Stage 2, the most telling metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined: 48 per cent. That figure sits below the Essex local authority average of 62 per cent, and it places the school 25th out of 30 primary schools in Epping Forest, putting it in the bottom half of the local rankings. Nationally, St John Fisher ranks in the 82nd percentile, meaning roughly 18 per cent of primary schools across England scored lower on this combined measure.

Looking more closely at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the school’s strongest individual subject was reading, where 73 per cent of pupils met the expected standard and the average scaled score was 104. In writing, 70 per cent reached the expected level, while in maths the figure was 66 per cent with an average score of 102. Only 2 per cent of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, though 20 per cent did so in reading and 16 per cent in maths. The school does not publish progress scores for reading, writing or maths, so it is not possible to compare how much value it adds relative to pupils’ starting points. With 280 pupils on roll against a capacity of 390, the school is not full, and 22.9 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average for primary schools.

The school is heavily oversubscribed for Reception entry in 2025/26, receiving 88 applications for 30 places, with 29 offers made to first-preference families. It has a strong Catholic character and a broad range of facilities including a chapel, sensory room, music rooms, art studios and an ICT suite. Sports on offer include football, cricket, swimming and gymnastics, while clubs include Eco Club, Film Club and Chess. The school’s SEND provision covers eight categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication needs, and physical disability. For families prioritising a faith-based primary with a supportive environment and good Ofsted rating, St John Fisher is a popular choice, though the competition for places is stiff. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Hereward Primary School, just 0.7 km away.

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