St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Billericay Review 2026: High-achieving Catholic primary with structured routines and strong pastoral systems

A two-form entry Catholic primary serving families in and around Billericay, St Peter’s pairs very strong Key Stage 2 outcomes with clear day-to-day structures. In 2024, 89.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the England average of 62%. The school’s wider attainment profile is similarly strong, with high scaled scores and a notably large proportion reaching higher standards.

Mrs Hannah Walker is the current headteacher. The school is part of the Christus Catholic Trust. For families seeking a faith-led education with ambitious academic expectations, the headline here is consistency, both in outcomes and in how the school runs each day.

St Peter’s describes its core identity plainly, “Loving and Learning together, with Jesus”, and the Catholic character is not treated as an add-on. It is visible through daily practice and the way values are used as a reference point for behaviour, service, and leadership roles. Catholic Social Teaching is given a deliberate profile on the school website, and pupils are encouraged to connect faith to practical action and responsibility.

Routines are well signposted. The school day is timed tightly, with arrival from 08.40, registration at 08.50, and a 15.20 finish. Assemblies run at 09.00, including whole-school assemblies on Monday and Friday, with a celebration assembly to mark achievement. This kind of structure tends to suit pupils who like clarity and predictability. It can also help quieter children settle quickly, because the day follows a familiar rhythm.

Leadership and governance reflect the school’s faith context. The governing body includes parish representation, and the admissions arrangements explicitly set expectations around supporting the Catholic ethos, even for families who are not Catholic. Families considering St Peter’s should assume that liturgy, prayer, and shared Gospel values are part of the fabric, not optional extras.

St Peter’s 2024 outcomes place it comfortably among the stronger primary schools in England. 89.67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 49.33% reached greater depth across reading, writing and maths, far above the England average of 8%. Scaled scores are similarly high, with 108 in reading and 109 in maths, alongside 111 in grammar, punctuation and spelling.

FindMySchool’s ranking data (based on official results) places St Peter’s 783rd in England and 2nd in the Billericay area for primary outcomes. This level sits well above the England average, within the top 10% of primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspected on 13 February 2024 and rated the school Outstanding across all graded areas.

The outcomes point to a school that teaches the basics exceptionally well, then extends well beyond them. The combined GPS, reading and maths total score is high, and the proportions achieving high scores in each strand suggest that pupils are not only meeting the standard but often surpassing it.

At classroom level, this typically implies a few consistent features. First, early reading will be taught with discipline, because strong reading scores at this scale are rarely achieved without consistent phonics and well-managed practice. Second, writing expectations are likely explicit and frequently revisited, as shown by a high proportion achieving greater depth in writing. Third, maths learning is probably cumulative and carefully sequenced, because scaled score strength tends to follow from mastery of number and fluency, not just test technique.

The school also signals curriculum breadth. The curriculum menu includes French, computing, STEM, and dedicated areas for mental health and wellbeing, alongside the expected foundation subjects. For many families, this is the most reassuring combination: measurable excellence in English and maths, with enough breadth to keep curious pupils engaged.

St Peter’s is a primary school, so the key question is transition and which secondary routes families typically consider. In diocesan terms, St Peter’s is listed as a feeder school within the parish links for St John Payne Catholic School in Chelmsford, which will be relevant for families prioritising a Catholic secondary pathway.

Beyond Catholic secondary options, families in Billericay will also be weighing local non-faith secondaries and any selective routes in the wider Essex context. The school’s strong attainment profile means pupils are likely to be well prepared for academically demanding key stage 3 curricula. For families navigating multiple secondary possibilities, it is worth mapping likely travel times early, because secondary admissions patterns and transport practicality can shape day-to-day life as much as school quality.

Reception admissions are coordinated through Essex County Council, with St Peter’s also requiring completion of a Supplementary Information Form for families applying under specific faith-related categories. For the September 2026 intake, applications opened on 10 November 2025 and closed on 15 January 2026.

The school is explicit about oversubscription priorities. When applications exceed places, priority is set out by category, starting with Catholic looked-after and previously looked-after children, then Catholic children with a Certificate of Catholic Practice linked to named parishes and “nearest Catholic school” considerations, before widening out to other applicants. Sibling priority and certain staff-related criteria are applied within categories, and distance is used as a tie-break if needed.

Demand is high. In the most recent admissions data provided, the school is oversubscribed, with 126 applications for 60 offers, around 2.1 applications per place. First preference demand is also strong, with the first preference ratio running above one. This is a school where admission planning matters, and families should treat the Supplementary Information Form and supporting parish documentation as time-critical rather than optional.

St Peter’s runs open mornings for prospective Reception families. For the September 2026 intake, these were listed as 03 October 2025, 11 November 2025, 18 November 2025, and 08 January 2026, with booking by appointment. Going forward, families can reasonably expect open mornings to cluster in October to November and early January for September entry, but the school website remains the most reliable place for current dates.

Parents should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to sense-check practicalities such as likely travel time and to keep an eye on how competitive nearby alternatives are when building a shortlist.

Safeguarding roles are clearly identified. Mrs Walker is listed as Designated Safeguarding Lead, with Mrs Downey as Deputy DSL. The website sets out training expectations and referral routes, including the principle that concerns are acted on immediately and escalated via defined procedures. This clarity is often a good proxy for a well-run pastoral system, especially in larger primaries.

The school’s wider approach links wellbeing to pupil leadership and community responsibility. Roles such as Mental Health Ambassadors, Eco Committee, Junior Librarians and Play Leaders indicate an effort to give pupils ownership and a voice, rather than treating personal development as a one-off event. That tends to suit pupils who gain confidence by being trusted with meaningful responsibility.

That same inspection also confirmed safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Enrichment at St Peter’s is not presented as a generic list. The school names a range of clubs and makes the timing practical for working families. Morning clubs run from 08.00 to 08.40 and afternoon clubs from 15.20 to 16.15. Current club options listed include Choir, Multi Sports, Football, Netball, Running, Zumba, Rugby, Tennis, Mindfulness, Board Games, Newspaper, and Storybook Club.

What this means in practice is breadth, but also different “entry points” for different children. Sport-heavy pupils have obvious routes, but there are quieter options too, including reading and creative writing through Storybook Club and Newspaper. Choir matters because it typically anchors liturgy and whole-school events in Catholic primaries, and it gives musically inclined pupils a structured weekly commitment.

The school’s gallery and enrichment links also suggest regular visits and themed experiences, including African drumming and author engagement, alongside wider community and charity links. For families weighing the day-to-day feel, these details hint at a school that expects pupils to participate, not just attend.

Parents comparing schools locally can use the FindMySchool local hub pages to view primary outcomes side-by-side using the comparison tools, especially helpful in an area where several schools perform strongly.

The school day runs 08.40 to 15.20, with a 32.5-hour week and assemblies scheduled at 09.00. Wraparound care is offered on site via The Young Ones, with sessions listed as 07.45 to 08.40 and 15.20 to 18.00.

For travel and parking, the school provides specific guidance linked to local parking arrangements at The Kings Head, including an option designed to cover repeated drop-offs and pick-ups across a week. As with any primary, families should assume that on-street parking near the school will be pressured at peak times and plan accordingly.

• Faith commitment is real. The admissions policy sets clear expectations that families support the Catholic ethos, and documentation such as a Certificate of Catholic Practice can be decisive for oversubscribed categories.

• Competition for places. With 126 applications for 60 offers in the latest available demand data, the limiting factor for many families will be entry rather than school quality.

• A structured, high-expectation environment. The results profile and the tightly run school day point to a setting that suits pupils who respond well to routines and clear academic targets. Families seeking a looser, more informal style may prefer to compare alternatives locally.

• Transport and parking need thought. The school publishes detailed parking guidance tied to a local scheme, which is a sign that congestion at peak times is a genuine issue.

St Peter’s stands out for one of the strongest attainment profiles you will find in an England state primary, combined with an explicitly Catholic approach to daily school life. It suits families who want faith to be lived in practice, alongside ambitious academic expectations and a well-organised routine. The main hurdle is admission, so families should treat the supplementary form and parish documentation as core parts of the process, not optional extras.