St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Streetly Review 2026: Elite Performance in a Nurturing Community

On the leafy outskirts of Sutton Coldfield where Walsall meets Birmingham, St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Streetly, serves as a beacon of academic excellence. The school currently sits in the elite tier of primary education, ranking 87th in England and holding the number one position locally in Sutton Coldfield (FindMySchool proprietary ranking). This one-form entry school provides a close-knit environment for approximately 210 pupils, where the Catholic ethos and a drive for high standards coexist seamlessly.

Mrs Patricia Johnston, appointed as Head Teacher in January 2018, leads a school that consistently outperforms national benchmarks. With a nursery on site and an age range from 3 to 11, the school offers a stable educational journey. The latest 2024 results tell a remarkable story of success, with 100% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing, and mathematics combined.

The atmosphere at St Anne's is one of quiet purpose and shared values. As a Catholic school, the religious character is fundamental to its identity, though it welcomes the wider community with an inclusive spirit. The physical environment on Blackwood Road is well ordered and supportive, designed to facilitate both academic focus and personal growth.

The school motto, Gaudium in Veritate (Joy in Truth), is reflected in the daily life of the pupils. There is a palpable sense of community, where older pupils often support younger ones, and staff know the individual needs and personalities of every child. This familiarity is a hallmark of the one-form entry structure, ensuring no pupil is overlooked.

Leadership remains a core strength. Under Mrs Johnston, the school has maintained its trajectory of excellence while ensuring that the "Joy in Truth" is not lost to the pressure of performance. The latest Ofsted inspection in January 2025 awarded the school Outstanding ratings across every key judgment area, including the quality of education and leadership and management.

The 2024 academic data places St Anne's among the highest performing schools in England (top 2%). In the Key Stage 2 assessments, the school achieved a perfect 100% success rate for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing, and mathematics. This is significantly higher than the England average of 61%.

The depth of achievement is even more striking at the higher standard. At St Anne's, 28% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, writing, and mathematics combined, compared to the England average of 8%. This indicates that nearly a third of the cohort is working at a level well beyond the national expectation.

Individual subject performance is equally dominant. In reading, the average scaled score was 111, matching the local authority's highest benchmarks. Mathematics mirrored this success with an average scaled score of 111. These results confirm that St Anne's is a school where high achievement is the norm rather than the exception.

Teaching at St Anne's is characterised by high expectations and a structured approach to the curriculum. In the primary phase, the focus is on building solid foundations in literacy and numeracy, but this is enriched by a broader curriculum that includes specialist input.

The school nursery provides an early introduction to the St Anne's way of learning. Practitioners focus on communication, social skills, and early phonics, ensuring that pupils are exceptionally well prepared for their transition into Reception. Throughout the school, teachers demonstrate expert subject knowledge, particularly in the core areas of reading and mathematics, which is reflected in the elite tier results.

Science is another area of strength, with 100% of pupils reaching the expected standard. The curriculum is designed to be ambitious, challenging pupils to think critically and apply their knowledge across different contexts.

With roughly 234 pupils currently on roll, the school operates as a large family. Pastoral care is deeply rooted in Catholic values, focusing on the development of the whole child. The school provides a safe and supportive environment where pupils feel comfortable expressing themselves and taking risks in their learning.

Behaviour is excellent, with pupils showing a high degree of respect for one another and for staff. The small size of the school allows for a highly personalised approach to wellbeing. Teachers and teaching assistants are quick to identify if a child is struggling and provide the necessary emotional or academic support. For families, this creates a sense of security, knowing that their children are in a nurturing environment that prioritises their happiness as much as their grades.

Extracurricular life at St Anne's is vibrant, offering pupils opportunities to develop talents outside the traditional academic sphere. The school makes excellent use of its grounds and local facilities to provide a range of clubs and activities.

Music and the arts are well supported, with specialist music teaching and a curriculum that encourages creative expression. Sporting opportunities are also a fixture, often utilising the MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) completed in May 2024. These activities are designed to foster teamwork, resilience, and a sense of fair play, which the school considers essential traits for its leavers.

St Anne's is a highly sought after school and is consistently oversubscribed. For the most recent intake, there were 76 applications for just 30 Reception places. The subscription proportion of 2.53 indicates that for every place available, more than two and a half families applied, making entry competitive.

As a Catholic school, the admissions policy prioritises baptised Catholic children, particularly those within the parish of St Anne's. Families should be aware that a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) is required alongside the standard local authority application. For 2026 entry, the deadline for both forms is 15 January 2026.

Pupils from St Anne's typically move on to a variety of local secondary schools, with many pursuing places at selective grammar schools in the Birmingham and Walsall areas. The high percentage of pupils achieving greater depth in their Key Stage 2 assessments makes them strong candidates for these competitive entry routes.

Historical exit data shows that a significant portion of leavers progress to St Francis of Assisi Catholic College or The Streetly Academy. The school provides a robust transition programme to ensure that Year 6 pupils are prepared for the social and academic challenges of secondary school.

The school day typically runs from 8:50am to 3:20pm. St Anne's offers wraparound care for busy families; the breakfast club begins at 7:30am, and the after school club provides care until 6:00pm.

Located on Blackwood Road, the school is accessible for local families in Streetly and Sutton Coldfield. Following the completion of a new front entrance in 2021, the site features enhanced security and safety measures.

• Fierce competition for places: With 2.53 applications for every offer, St Anne's is one of the most oversubscribed primaries in the region. Families without a strong parish connection may find it challenging to secure a place.
• High academic pace: The school's position in the top 2% of England schools reflects a demanding academic environment. While the results are exceptional, the pace and expectations are high, which may be a consideration for some children.
• Catholic focus: The school's religious character is genuine and pervasive. Families who are not from a Catholic background should be comfortable with the daily prayer, Masses, and religious teaching that form the core of the school's identity.

St Anne's Catholic Primary School is an academic powerhouse that manages to retain the warmth of a small community school. Its results are truly elite, placing it among the very best in England, yet it remains grounded in its mission to provide a joyful, truth filled education. It is best suited to Catholic families in the Streetly area who value high academic standards within a faith based framework. The primary hurdle is undoubtedly admission; for those who secure a place, the educational outcomes are world class.