Secondary school

St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford

  • Voluntary Aided School
  • ages 11–18
  • Mixed
  • Roman Catholic
  • Essex
  • CM1 4BS
  • Sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Jan 2016

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 959 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 30%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 29%29%2016/17: top 42%2017/18: top 25%2018/19: top 26%2021/22: top 24%24% · 2021/222022/23: top 39%2023/24: top 30%2024/25: top 30%No exams

A-level results

#159 of 273 East of England sixth forms, state and independent, 2024/25

Independent and selective (grammar) schools choose their pupils, so high results partly reflect who gets in, not only teaching. Some independent schools don't publish results.

Against East of England

Attainment 849.9 · East of England 45.98/10 Above
Grade 5+ English and maths50.8% · East of England 44.9%7/10 Above
EBacc point score4.12 · East of England 4.016/10 Middle−11.3 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.10 · East of England −0.026/10 Middle−8.9 pts since 18/19
A level points per entry32.69 · East of England 33.165/10 Middle−15.1 pts since 21/22
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 53.3 · 189 pupils · East of England 50.52016/17: 47.4 · 189 pupils · East of England 46.22017/18: 51.3 · 183 pupils · East of England 46.32018/19: 51.4 · 185 pupils · East of England 46.32021/22: 54.3 · 191 pupils · East of England 48.82022/23: 48.1 · 187 pupils · East of England 46.22023/24: 49.8 · 192 pupils · East of England 45.62024/25: 49.9 · 189 pupils · East of England 45.8554.347.4No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 48% · 189 pupils · East of England 41%2017/18: 58% · 183 pupils · East of England 41%2018/19: 49% · 185 pupils · East of England 40%2021/22: 59% · 191 pupils · East of England 49%2022/23: 49% · 187 pupils · East of England 43%2023/24: 50.5% · 192 pupils · East of England 43.9%2024/25: 50.8% · 189 pupils · East of England 44.9%59%48%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 32.07 · 99 pupils · East of England 29.022016/17: 29.26 · 110 pupils · East of England 29.412017/18: 33.85 · 99 pupils · East of England 30.942018/19: 34.06 · 97 pupils · East of England 31.322021/22: 37.36 · 119 pupils · East of England 36.152022/23: 35.6 · 111 pupils · East of England 32.282023/24: 34.14 · 115 pupils · East of England 32.652024/25: 32.69 · 102 pupils · East of England 33.1637.3629.26No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in71.1%
133 of 187 who put it first2014 · 91.3%2026 · 71.1%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st187133
2nd14627
3rd11112

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2005–2024

  1. 2005Good
  2. 2008Good
  3. 2011Good
  4. 2016Good
  5. 2019Remains Good
  6. 2024Remains Good

5 strong areas

  • Outcomes for pupils
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management
  • Personal development, behaviour and welfare
  • 16 to 19 study programmes
  • Quality of teaching, learning and assessment

0 weak areas

5 areas graded

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,241
Free school meals (past 6 years)18.1%
First language not English10.2%
SEN support9.9%
EHC plan3.0%
Absence (sessions missed)6.1%
Persistently absent pupils14.7%

Girls 49.7%Boys 50.3%

101.7% full · 1,220 places · 255 in sixth form

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 147 responses (12.5% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school92.5% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school93.9% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved91.8% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 55.8% not applicable72.3% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year79.6% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 22.4% not applicable88.6% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed77.1% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child90.5% agree
  • My child does well at this school89.8% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing92.5% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school94.6% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school94.5% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development84.3% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent91.2% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher19.9
Pupils per adult13.5
  • Classroom teachers 55.7
  • Leadership 6.8
  • Teaching assistants 12.8
  • Other support 44.5

Teachers 62.5 FTE · Whole workforce 119.7 · 164 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£7,229
Spend per pupil£7,192
Staff spend per pupil£5,573
Reserve per pupil£1,441
  • +£1,793,162revenue reserve
  • +£45,904in-year balance

Grants £6,825 · self-generated £404 · premises £504 per pupil

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

192 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained95.3%
  • Education92.7%
  • Apprenticeship1%
  • Employment1.6%
  • Not sustained3.1%
  • Unknown1.6%

After sixth form (16–18)

115 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained92.2%
  • Education71.3%
  • Higher education68.7%
  • Apprenticeship3.5%
  • Employment17.4%
  • Not sustained4.3%
  • Unknown3.5%