English Martyrs' Catholic Voluntary Academy, Oakham

Ofsted's report card from its 20 January 2026 inspection grades English Martyrs' Catholic Voluntary Academy on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Attendance shows the high-quality work of the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school is highly successful in promoting pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a broad and ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of pupils."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in the early years make a secure and positive start to their education."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "This school is welcoming and inclusive."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leadership and governance are proactive, strategic and values-driven."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should strengthen independent writing opportunities across the early years curriculum so that expectations are consistently ambitious and children build secure writing foundations for Year 1. • Leaders should ensure that newly introduced approaches to handwriting and transcription are consistently embedded, with subject leaders rigorously monitoring teaching and pupils' progress to secure even stronger early foundations. • Leaders should strengthen the matching of activities and adaptations so that pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are consistently challenged and supported to access learning independently".

In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at English Martyrs' Catholic Voluntary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 95% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 75% in Rutland and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (84% in reading, 92% in maths).

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 19 families put English Martyrs' Catholic Voluntary Academy as their first choice and 36 named it as one of their preferences, for 20 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to English Martyrs' Catholic Voluntary Academy are Oakham CofE Primary School (0.1 miles, 71% reading, 71% maths); Catmose Primary (0.9 miles, Good, 70% reading, 73% maths); Brooke Hill Academy (1 mile, Good, 82% reading, 86% maths); and Langham CofE (Controlled) Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 93% reading, 73% maths).

English Martyrs' Catholic Voluntary Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

English Martyrs' Catholic Voluntary Academy is one of 23 schools run by St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 63% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

67 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about English Martyrs' Catholic Voluntary Academy (as of April 2026): 84% would recommend the school, 84% say their child is happy there and 25% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (25%).

15.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 38 pupils (25%) received SEN support and 8 (5.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

English Martyrs' Catholic Voluntary Academy had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 27 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Oakham Rail Station, about 820 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is English Martyrs (near), 50 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood English Martyrs' Catholic Voluntary Academy stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 6th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 59 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Rutland (8), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, English Martyrs' Catholic Voluntary Academy issued 1 suspension, 0.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.