St Alban's Catholic Academy, Harlow
St Alban's Catholic Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Harlow, part of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Multi Academy Trust. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 20th-highest of the 30 schools in Harlow with published results, and 7,614th of 14,452 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Essex (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Alban's Catholic Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at St Alban's Catholic Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 70% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Alban's Catholic Academy
For September 2026 entry, 26 families put St Alban's Catholic Academy as their first choice and 58 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St Alban's Catholic Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Alban's Catholic Academy are Freshwaters Primary Academy (0.3 miles, Good, 88% reading, 88% maths); Tany's Dell Primary School and Nursery (0.5 miles, Good, 95% reading, 90% maths); Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery (0.5 miles, Good, 55% reading, 46% maths); and The Downs Primary School and Nursery (0.6 miles, Requires improvement, 71% reading, 59% maths).
St Alban's Catholic Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Freshwaters Primary AcademyTany's Dell Primary School and NurseryCooks Spinney Primary Academy and NurseryThe Downs Primary School and Nursery
The trust
St Alban's Catholic Academy is one of 3 schools run by Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
All 3 schools in Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Multi Academy Trust
What parents say
32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Alban's Catholic Academy (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 92% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that pupils behave well (100%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (88%).
Who goes there
14.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 48% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (34%), White British (20%) and Asian (11%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Harlow Town Rail Station, about 1070 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Burnt Mill School (outside), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 414 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Alban's Catholic Academy issued 7 suspensions, 3.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Alban's Catholic Academy are Burnt Mill Academy (under 0.1 miles), Bmat Stem Academy (0.7 miles), St Mark's West Essex Catholic School (0.9 miles) and Mark Hall Academy (0.9 miles).
Burnt Mill AcademyBmat Stem AcademySt Mark's West Essex Catholic SchoolMark Hall Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
St Alban's core values of 'learn together, grow together, and achieve together' foster collaboration and respect for all. Pupils are polite and friendly and engage well in conversations. They warmly welcome visitors and take pride in sharing their achievements in this inclusive school. Pupils thrive in this supportive and nurturing environment.
The school has set high expectations for everyone. Pupils understand the importance of aspiration by working hard, wanting to succeed and attending regularly. Pupils are highly engaged and learn well. Staff encourage pupils to express their feelings and concerns. Adults are available to help with any worries, allowing pupils to develop their confidence and character.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has implemented an ambitious curriculum, identifying key knowledge in each subject. Starting from the early years, children benefit from a strong foundation through well-planned learning and positive interactions with adults. They develop independence and play cooperatively, listening attentively during adult-led sessions. Adults use effective questioning and model vocabulary well to help extend learning and understanding. Therefore, children are well-prepared for Year 1.
Most pupils remember their current learning well. For example, they use their knowledge of the society in ancient Egypt when making comparisons with democracy in modern-day Britain. Despite this, some pupils, including those who speak English as an additional language and those who join the school at various times during the school year, can struggle to link their previous knowledge to what they are learning now. This prevents them from making as much progress as they could.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2015 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
14.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
32 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 73% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 67% to 80% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 63% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.3
Avg class size
29.5
Infant (KS1)
29.3
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Alban's Catholic Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Alban's Catholic Academy.
- Time For Change Kids HarlowAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Alban's Catholic Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Alban's Catholic Academy is in Essex; for families living there:
- Essex's school travel policy: Education Transport Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 49
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 13
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 49 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 13 serious and 36 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
11 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St Alban's Catholic Academy
Will you get a place at St Alban's Catholic Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Alban's Catholic Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Alban's Catholic Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Alban's Catholic Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Essex, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Alban's Catholic Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Essex got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
206 pupils
210 places
4 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Harlow
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Harlow
Across Essex council
Places available
17,932
Applications
15,737
Got 1st preference
90.3%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All primary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
46
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
25.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
227
Total Pupils
121
Boys
106
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
20.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,251
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,592
Per pupil
£1244k
Total funding
£52k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.7%
Overall absence
11.1%
Persistent absence
189
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Alban's Catholic Academy
Questions parents ask about St Alban's Catholic Academy
What are SATs results like at St Alban's Catholic Academy?
Of the pupils at St Alban's Catholic Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 73% reached the expected standard in reading and 80% did so in maths.
What is St Alban's Catholic Academy's Ofsted rating?
St Alban's Catholic Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Alban's Catholic Academy?
No fixed boundary. When St Alban's Catholic Academy is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Alban's Catholic Academy?
St Alban's Catholic Academy was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St Alban's Catholic Academy?
Classes at St Alban's Catholic Academy average 29.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Alban's Catholic Academy?
St Alban's Catholic Academy has around 227 pupils on roll. 14% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Alban's Catholic Academy?
4.7% of sessions were missed at St Alban's Catholic Academy in 2024/25. 11.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Alban's Catholic Academy?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming St Alban's Catholic Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does St Alban's Catholic Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Time For Change Kids Harlow (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St Alban's Catholic Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 49 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 13 serious and 36 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 11 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Alban's Catholic Academy?
St Alban's Catholic Academy is at First Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM20 2NP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)