St John's RC School (Essex), Woodford Bridge
St John's RC School (Essex) is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 19 in Woodford Bridge. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, ended in a report card: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2013.
- Ofsted report card
- 2 of 7 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St John's RC School (Essex) in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades St John's RC School (Essex) 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 is a priority."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The personal, social, health and economics education (PSHE) and relationships and sex education (RSE) curriculums are carefully planned to give pupils the knowledge and skills that they need to be ready for life beyond school."
Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well across the school."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed an ambitious and coherent curriculum."
Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school takes a careful and thoughtful approach to inclusion."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have taken clear and appropriate action to improve the school since the last inspection."
Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "The post-16 provision is thoughtfully led so that students receive a well-organised and personalised programme of learning."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the progression of knowledge and skills for pupils' wider development is consistently and precisely mapped across all curriculum areas. This will make sure that pupils experience a coherent, well sequenced development of personal skills in every area of the curriculum, including in the post-16 provision".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to St John's RC School (Essex) are Luxborough Court School (0.6 miles, Good); New Rush Hall School (1.1 miles, Outstanding); Stradbroke (1.5 miles, Good); and Hatton Special School (1.6 miles, Outstanding).
Luxborough Court SchoolNew Rush Hall SchoolStradbrokeHatton Special School
Where pupils go next
Of the 12 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 17% to a further education college.
Who goes there
36.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 26.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Mixed (23%), White British (23%) and Asian (22%).
Almost every pupil at St John's RC School (Essex) has an education, health and care plan (102 of 102 in 2026). The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
St John's RC School (Essex) provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Chigwell Underground Station, about 1180 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is West Hatch School (opposite), 250 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 152 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
St John's RC School (Essex) recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE destination measures; 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 · 6 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- InclusionExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- Post 16 provisionExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at St John's RC School (Essex)
Pupils are happy, settled and feel safe. They are well known and understood by staff. Pupils have positive and trusting relationships with staff in school. This helps them to feel secure and ready to learn each day. Pupils are well supported to understand their feelings and communicate their needs. They are taught to use communication approaches that work for them. Pupils are calm and learn how to manage their emotions. Consequently, behaviour is positive and consistent across the school. Pupils are kind to each other. They learn how to build positive relationships through daily experiences and lessons. Pupils are supported to understand how behaviour can have a negative or positive impact on others. They learn how to show respect and kindness, which they show constantly. Pupils are rarely affected by bullying. If any concerns arise, staff act quickly to support and resolve them. Pupils feel listened to and know that adults will help them. Pupils enjoy their learning because it is matched to their individual needs and interests. Pupils take part in a wide range of activities that help them develop communication, independence and confidence. Pupils engage well in lessons and are supported by staff who understand how they learn best. Pupils benefit from a calm and structured environment, which helps them to focus and succeed. Pupils achieve well over time. They make progress from their various starting points, especially in communication, reading and early mathematics. Pupils develop important life skills that help them become more independent and prepared for the future. Students in post-16 take part in experiences that support their next steps into adulthood. Pupils grow, achieve and thrive at this nurturing school. They benefit from the care that the school and governors have for them all. This is a truly supportive school environment.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should ensure that the progression of knowledge and skills for pupils' wider development is consistently and precisely mapped across all curriculum areas. This will make sure that pupils experience a coherent, well sequenced development of personal skills in every area of the curriculum, including in the post-16 provision.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 21 April 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St John's excels at understanding each child as an individual and providing tailored support that helps them feel safe and ready to learn. The school has an exceptional therapeutic team and pastoral care approach that teaches pupils to understand and manage their emotions effectively. Staff work closely with families and use personalised strategies including visual supports and consistent approaches to help every pupil progress and develop independence.
Key Strengths
- Excellent pastoral care with a dedicated therapy team that supports pupils' emotional wellbeing and independence
- Strong attendance approach with personalised plans and close family engagement that has notably improved attendance
- Calm and positive school environment with consistent high expectations, resulting in excellent behaviour
- Well-designed curriculum personalised to each pupil's education, health and care plan
- Effective safeguarding with an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed
Areas for Improvement
- Leaders are working to improve the progression of knowledge and skills across all areas of the wider curriculum beyond core subjects
- Further development needed to ensure pupils apply their learning consistently in meaningful ways across all curriculum areas
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and all legal requirements are fulfilled.
Extracurricular Activities
Work-based experiences, community activities, work-related learning
St John's RC School is a special education school that provides personalised learning for pupils with complex needs. The school creates a calm, purposeful environment where pupils feel safe and supported to thrive.
About
St John's RC School is a Roman Catholic special school located in Essex, England. The school is located south of Chigwell in the Epping Forest District of Essex, but is closer to Woodford Green in the London Borough of Redbridge.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
36.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Speech and language, MLD, SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with St John's RC School (Essex)
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St John's RC School (Essex) from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St John's RC School (Essex) 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
- 28
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 28 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 24 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
102%
Over capacity
102 pupils
100 places
2 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Woodford Bridge
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Woodford Bridge
Across Essex council
Places available
17,590
Applications
16,568
Got 1st preference
83.4%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
102
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
St John's RC School (Essex) provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
102
Total Pupils
71
Boys
31
Girls
2026 academic year
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.2%
Overall absence
33.3%
Persistent absence
72
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
St John's RC School (Essex)
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about St John's RC School (Essex)
What is St John's RC School (Essex)'s Ofsted rating?
St John's RC School (Essex)'s most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St John's RC School (Essex)?
No fixed boundary. When St John's RC School (Essex) is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to St John's RC School (Essex)?
St John's RC School (Essex) has around 102 pupils on roll. 36% are eligible for free school meals.
Does St John's RC School (Essex) have specialist SEN provision?
St John's RC School (Essex) provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at St John's RC School (Essex)?
11.2% of sessions were missed at St John's RC School (Essex) in 2024/25. 33.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St John's RC School (Essex)?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming St John's RC School (Essex) on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near St John's RC School (Essex)?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 28 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 24 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 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 John's RC School (Essex)?
St John's RC School (Essex) is at Turpins Lane, Woodford Bridge, Essex, IG8 8AX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)