St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Saffron Walden Review 2026: Elite KS2 outcomes with a clear Catholic ethos

This is a high-performing state primary on the published measures that tend to matter most to parents at key stage 2.

On the combined measure of reading, writing and mathematics, 94% met the expected standard. At the higher standard, 40.33% reached the stronger benchmark. England averages for the same year sit at 62% (expected) and 8% (higher), which puts performance firmly into the “among the highest-performing in England” bracket.

The underlying attainment profile is also strong across the component tests. Average scaled scores were 111 in reading, 111 in mathematics, and 113 in grammar, punctuation and spelling. High-score rates are likewise elevated, including 56% achieving a high score in reading, 47% in mathematics, and 71% in grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Rankings reinforce the same story. On FindMySchool’s ranking (a proprietary ranking based on official data), the school is ranked 119th in England for primary outcomes and 1st in the Saffron Walden area, placing it in the elite tier, the top 2% of schools in England. Parents comparing options locally can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and the Comparison Tool to benchmark results side-by-side.

The curriculum approach is deliberately sequenced. The school’s own documents and the latest inspection evidence describe a curriculum designed to build knowledge in steps, starting in early years and setting out clear foundations for Year 1 and beyond. The practical benefit for pupils is reduced repetition and better continuity when learning becomes more complex in key stage 2.

Reading is positioned as a central pillar, with phonics and early reading taught by trained staff and checked frequently so gaps are addressed quickly. The implication for families is that pupils who need extra support with decoding are more likely to be identified early, rather than drifting into key stage 2 with fragile foundations.

Assessment is also where the school has a clear next step. The latest inspection narrative points to assessment approaches not being fully embedded in a small number of subjects, particularly in how precisely staff can check retention of key knowledge and vocabulary across the wider curriculum. This is not unusual in schools that have recently refined curriculum structures, but it is a useful prompt for parents to ask how subject leaders are tightening practice beyond English and mathematics.

As a state primary, transition is mainly about secondary admissions rather than internal progression. Most families will apply through Essex’s coordinated admissions in Year 6, and choices typically depend on travel patterns, sibling links, and oversubscription criteria.

For local context, Saffron Walden County High School is the main 11–18 comprehensive serving the town, and it is widely oversubscribed for Year 7. That tends to shape how early families start thinking about secondary preferences, transport, and realistic fallbacks.

Demand is material. The most recent published admissions demand data shows 69 applications for 27 offers in the relevant entry round, a ratio of 2.56 applications per place, and the school is recorded as oversubscribed. In practical terms, families should assume that meeting the admissions criteria matters and that late applications reduce options.

Reception entry for September 2026 is coordinated through Essex County Council. Applications opened on 10 November 2025 and the statutory closing date was 15 January 2026. National offer day is 16 April 2026.

The school’s published admission arrangements confirm a planned admission number of 30 for Reception in September 2026 and set out faith-based oversubscription criteria. Priority is given to baptised Catholic children (with different priority groups by parish connection), followed by other looked-after children, catechumens and other Christian denominations, other faiths, then other children. Ties are broken by distance using a straight-line measurement, and random allocation is used where distances are identical for the final place.

Families applying under a faith criterion are expected to complete a supplementary information form and return it by the same deadline as the main application. If it is not submitted with the required evidence by the closing date, the application may not be placed in the relevant faith category. To sense-check your realistic likelihood of entry, use the FindMySchool Map Search to understand distance and local competition patterns, while remembering that admissions outcomes vary each year.

Pastoral care is strongly linked to the school’s faith and behaviour expectations. The culture described in official inspection evidence emphasises kindness, fairness, and pupils taking responsibility for others, including buddying arrangements that support Reception pupils as they settle. The practical implication is a school culture that expects pupils to look outward, not just focus on individual attainment.

Safeguarding is a critical baseline for any shortlist. The latest Ofsted inspection, published in October 2023 following a September 2023 visit, confirmed the school continues to be Good and that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Clubs are frequent and structured, with both wraparound care and additional enrichment. For working families, the important detail is that before-school Early Birds runs from 8.00am, and after-school Double Club runs to 6.00pm. Published costs indicate £5 per Early Birds session and £15 per Double Club session, which is typical of school-run wraparound rather than a subsidised entitlement.

The club offer itself changes termly, but published examples include Lego, Spanish, craft, netball, mini football, tri-club, art club, cross country, coding, and multi-skills, plus homework clubs in key stage 2. This breadth matters because it gives both sporty and non-sporty pupils a route into structured after-school time, and it also gives parents practical cover for pick-up times.

Outdoor learning is also a visible thread. The school describes Forest School as a regular experience for early years and key stage 1, with key stage 2 following an “eco curriculum” that links learning to care for creation and wider civic responsibility. In effect, that can suit pupils who learn best through tangible activities and helps balance the intensity that sometimes comes with very high attainment targets.

The school day is clearly published. The registration bell is at 8.45am and the school day ends at 3.15pm, with a total weekly time of 32.5 hours. Wraparound care extends coverage from 8.00am to 6.00pm for families who need it.

For transport context, Saffron Walden’s nearest railway station is Audley End, and the town information service highlights that it is around 2 miles from the town with bus connections on several routes. Many families will still prioritise walkability and safe drop-off routines because school-day traffic patterns can change year to year.

• Competition for places. Demand data shows more than two applications per place in the most recent published entry round. Families should treat late applications as a meaningful disadvantage.

• Faith criteria are operational, not decorative. The published admissions arrangements make clear that Catholic practice and evidence can materially affect priority. Families uncomfortable with a faith-led framework should read the oversubscription criteria carefully before relying on a place.

• Assessment development work. Ofsted highlighted that assessment checks are not yet consistently precise in a small number of subjects beyond the core, which is worth exploring if your child is particularly strong in foundation subjects.

• Wraparound costs. Wraparound care is available but published pricing shows it is not free. This is a practical budgeting item for families relying on early drop-off or late collection.

This is a high-performing Catholic primary with elite published outcomes and a structured approach to reading, curriculum sequencing, and pupil responsibility. It suits families who actively want a faith-shaped school culture, and who value academic stretch alongside purposeful enrichment such as music, eco-focused learning, and a strong clubs programme. The limiting factor is admission rather than the education itself, so families considering it should treat the timetable and supplementary faith evidence as non-negotiable parts of the process.