St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Chertsey Review 2026: High expectations, strong outcomes, and a clearly Catholic identity

A small-town primary that runs on calm routines, clear expectations, and a faith-led sense of purpose. St Anne’s is a two-form entry school with an admission number of 60 in Reception, so children usually have a broad friendship group without the site feeling impersonal.

Academic outcomes are a headline strength. In 2024, 86% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2, well above the England average of 62%.

Leadership has also recently changed. The current headteacher is Mrs Carmel Martin, who was inducted as Head of School in October 2024.

The latest Ofsted inspection (12 and 13 March 2024) judged the school Good overall, with Outstanding grades for Behaviour and Attitudes, and for Personal Development.

This is a school where values language is meant to be used, not merely displayed. The stated foundation is explicitly Catholic, with Gospel values positioned as the everyday reference point for behaviour, relationships, and service.

That ethos shows up in how pupils are expected to treat each other, and in the school’s emphasis on responsibility. Peer mentoring, participation in wider community projects, and a strong emphasis on kindness are part of the school’s public narrative.

A useful practical marker of culture is how well routines hold during transition points. Here, behaviour is described as exceptionally steady in class and around the site, with pupils responding to high expectations and taking pride in doing things properly.

The religious character is not a bolt-on. Links with parish life and diocesan structures appear consistently across school communications, and faith formation sits alongside a mainstream primary curriculum rather than replacing it.

Key Stage 2 outcomes in 2024 are strong across the core measures:

• Reading, writing and maths combined (expected standard): 86%, compared to an England average of 62%.

• Science (expected standard): 87%, compared to an England average of 82%.

Scaled scores add extra context because they indicate performance beyond the pass threshold:

• Reading scaled score: 107

• Maths scaled score: 107

• Grammar, punctuation and spelling scaled score: 109

Depth matters too. 35% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with an England average of 8%, which suggests a sizeable high-attaining group in the year.

On FindMySchool’s proprietary ranking (based on official performance data), St Anne’s is ranked 2,255th in England for primary outcomes and ranked 1st locally for Chertsey. In plain English, that places it comfortably within the top 25% of primaries in England (above the England average).

Parents comparing nearby schools should use the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tool to view these measures side by side, especially the combined reading, writing and maths figure and the higher standard rate, as they capture both breadth and stretch.

The curriculum is presented as topic-led and deliberately engaging, with year groups using “immersion days” to launch new units and build background knowledge before pupils write, reason, and produce extended outcomes.

The school’s own description emphasises enquiry-based learning and regular opportunities for pupils to research and ask questions, supported by access to devices for topic work.

A key reason this matters for families is the link between curriculum sequencing and long-term retention. Here, curriculum intent is framed around building on prior learning and revisiting content so that knowledge sticks, rather than rushing from topic to topic.

Personal development is treated as a taught strand, not a pastoral add-on. The Relationships and Sex Education curriculum is delivered through Ten Ten’s Life to the Full Plus scheme, which is positioned as diocesan-approved for Catholic schools.

As a primary school, the key transition is to Year 7. For many Catholic families locally, the most obvious faith-linked route is Salesian School in Chertsey, which is identified by the parish as the local Catholic secondary.

For families weighing different options, the practical takeaway is to focus on the transition support the school provides in Year 6 and to look early at the admissions criteria for preferred secondaries, especially where faith-based criteria or feeder patterns can shape likelihood of offer.

Demand is clearly higher than available places. In the most recent admissions data provided here, 152 applications competed for 60 offers, which equates to 2.53 applications per place.

Reception entry is coordinated through Surrey’s normal admissions round, with the council deadline for on-time applications falling on 15 January 2026 for the 2026 to 2027 intake.

Because St Anne’s is a Catholic school, additional faith-related paperwork can matter. For the 2026 to 2027 Reception intake, the school instructs families to return its Supplementary Information Form with supporting documents by 15 January 2026, noting that missing information can affect which oversubscription category a child is placed into.

If you are relying on a place here, use FindMySchool Map Search to check realistic alternatives within a commutable radius. For faith schools, also read the oversubscription criteria carefully, because distance alone is not always the deciding factor once priority categories are applied.

Pastoral roles are clearly signposted, including a Designated Safeguarding Lead and a home school link worker listed among key staff roles.

The school places strong emphasis on pupils’ moral development and on using reflective conversations to help pupils make better choices after mistakes. The intent is a behaviour culture that is firm, but also restorative and educative.

Safeguarding is a routine expectation rather than a special project. Ofsted’s March 2024 report confirms safeguarding is effective.

Clubs and enrichment are used as a practical way to widen horizons, not just as childcare. The Ofsted report points to clubs such as Spanish, art and choir, and links this to the expectation that every pupil should be encouraged to find interests and strengths.

Music is not treated as an occasional add-on. The school describes a Key Stage 2 choir of more than 50 children, alongside participation in county-level events such as the Surrey Arts Primary Music Festival and school concerts.

STEM has a visible public-facing anchor through the school’s science fair. The format is simple but effective: pupils design and present experiments, explain their thinking, and share outcomes with the school community. For children, the implication is that speaking, reasoning, and scientific curiosity are rewarded, not just correct answers.

Sport and activity are also structured through external providers as well as school-run opportunities. Planet Soccer is listed among the clubs and holiday-camp activity options, which can suit working families who want consistent provision during parts of the school holiday calendar.

The school day is set out by phase, with morning sessions starting at 8.35am and finish times that vary slightly by age, ending at 3.00pm in Reception and 3.15pm in Key Stage 2.

Wraparound care is available. Sunrise Breakfast Club operates from 7.50am to 8.40am in term time, and the school also runs an after-school provision (Sunset After School Club).

For travel and drop-off, the school has communicated a preference for families to use nearby parking options such as the local library car park, supported by a permit arrangement, to reduce congestion and improve safety at peak times.

• Competition for places. With 152 applications for 60 offers in the latest data here, demand is materially higher than supply. Build a realistic plan B early.

• Catholic admissions criteria are consequential. The Supplementary Information Form and supporting evidence are clearly positioned as important for correct priority placement in oversubscription categories. This suits families already engaged with Catholic parish life, but may feel complex for those unfamiliar with faith-school processes.

• Behaviour expectations are high. The school’s strengths include very strong conduct and self-discipline, which will suit children who like clear boundaries. Those who struggle with compliance may need more adjustment time and consistent home-school alignment.

• Wraparound is there, but check availability. Breakfast club places can depend on staffing and capacity. Families needing guaranteed daily coverage should confirm the pattern that can actually be booked.

St Anne’s Catholic Primary School is a high-performing local primary with a clearly Catholic identity and a culture built around consistent routines and strong personal development. Results place it above the England average, and the school’s strengths in behaviour and wider development are not incidental, they are central to how it operates.

Best suited to families who want a faith-shaped primary education, value firm expectations, and are prepared to engage early with admissions paperwork and deadlines. The main hurdle is securing a place in a competitive intake.