The Bishops' Church of England and Roman Catholic Primary School

About The Bishops' Church of England and Roman Catholic Primary School

Parents considering The Bishops' Church of England and Roman Catholic Primary School in Chelmsford will find a school that is clearly in demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 151 applications for just 58 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.6. Of those, 54 families put it as their first preference, and 53 first-preference offers were made, meaning almost every family who wanted it most got a place. This level of competition suggests strong local reputation. The school is a state primary for mixed genders aged 5 to 11, with a Church of England and Roman Catholic religious character. Headteacher Greg Waters leads a school that currently holds a Good Ofsted rating, confirmed in an ungraded inspection in July 2023 where it was judged to remain Good. The previous graded inspection in 2012 also rated it Good overall, with Good leadership and management. The school has 439 pupils on roll, slightly above its official capacity of 420, which aligns with its oversubscribed status.

Academically, the school performs above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 66% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the Essex average of 62%. This places the school 19th out of 41 primary schools in the Chelmsford local authority area, and in the top 50% nationally. Looking at individual subjects, 78% met the expected standard in reading and 83% in writing, while 78% did so in maths. At the higher standard, 15% achieved the higher benchmark across all three subjects. Reading and maths average scores were 106 and 105 respectively. The school does not have a sixth form, as it is a primary, and no progress scores are available for the data provided. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 10.3%, which is below the national average, indicating a relatively advantaged intake.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, art studios, library, ICT suite, chapel and an outdoor playground. Sports on offer include gymnastics, athletics, dance, cross country and football, while clubs extend to science, gardening, film and choir. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists provisions for a wide range of SEND categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and social, emotional and mental health support. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Perryfields Junior School, 0.9 km away, which may be a consideration for families weighing options. With its oversubscribed status, strong but not elite KS2 results, and broad facilities, this school will particularly suit families who value a faith-based environment with good academic outcomes and a clear community feel, but who are prepared to apply early given the competition for places.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About The Bishops' Church of England and Roman Catholic Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents