St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Braintree
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
St Michael's is a happy, welcoming place where pupils thrive. The school has excellent reading provision with a strong phonics programme and skilled teachers who help every child progress. Reception Year children get a fantastic start through play-based learning, and the school offers many enrichment opportunities including clubs, trips and residential visits that broaden pupils' experiences.
Key Strengths
- Reading is a high priority with a consistent phonics programme and skilled teaching that builds fluency and comprehension
- Well-structured teaching in English, mathematics and science deepens pupils' understanding
- Reception Year provision is strong with children learning through play in well-resourced classrooms and outdoor spaces
- Pupils behave well, are polite and kind, with high expectations clearly met
- Wide range of enrichment including trips, residential visits, clubs (guitar, art, yoga) and leadership roles
Areas for Improvement
- Leadership does not have sufficiently robust checks on how well the curriculum is being implemented and its impact on pupil progress
- Some other subjects remain in earlier stages of curriculum development compared to English, mathematics and science
- Communication with staff and parents about school priorities and pupils' learning is not always clear or consistent
- Governance arrangements are temporary and more stable arrangements need to be secured
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with safeguarding put at the centre of the school's work.
Extracurricular Activities
Guitar club, art club, yoga club, school council, librarian roles, reading champions, author visits, trips, residential visits, themed days such as Language Day, breakfast club
St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School in Braintree provides a good quality of education with strong behaviour and personal development. Recent changes to governance have stabilised leadership, though permanent governing arrangements remain a priority.
At a Glance
19.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
175 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 86% to 67%. Maths has declined from 86% to 66%. Writing has remained stable at around 67%.
Class Sizes
29.1
Avg class size
28.3
Infant (KS1)
29.7
KS2
10
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
92%
Near capacity
387 pupils
420 capacity
33 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Braintree
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Braintree
Admissions Demand - Essex
Places available
17,913
Applications
15,619
Got 1st preference
90.3%
Got preferred school
98.4%
Primary admissions across Essex (2025/26)
Inspection History(8)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.11925%
Overall absence
9.94624%
Persistent absence
372
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.