St Alban’s Catholic Primary School in East Molesey and St Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Thames Ditton are two popular Catholic primary schools in the Elmbridge area of Surrey. Both serve pupils aged 4–11 and are part of the Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton. They share similar values and religious foundations but differ slightly in size, results and school environment.

Official school websites
https://www.stalbans.surrey.sch.uk/
https://www.stpauls-thamesditton.surrey.sch.uk/

Admissions and entry

Both schools are state-funded Catholic primary schools and give priority to children from Catholic families, although other pupils may also apply if places are available.

St Alban’s Catholic Primary School is located on Beauchamp Road in East Molesey and educates children aged 4–11. The school has just over 400 pupils.

St Paul’s Catholic Primary School is located on Hampton Court Way in Thames Ditton and also serves pupils aged 4–11. The school has around 340 pupils.

Both schools are mixed (co-educational) and follow the national primary curriculum alongside Catholic religious education.

Academic results

Both schools achieve strong academic results compared with national averages.

St Alban’s Catholic Primary School performs particularly strongly in national assessments, with a high proportion of pupils reaching the expected and higher standards in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of primary school.

St Paul’s Catholic Primary School also achieves strong results, with many pupils meeting or exceeding national expectations at the end of Key Stage 2.

Both schools therefore perform well academically, although St Alban’s is sometimes seen as having particularly high attainment levels.

School environment

The atmosphere in the two schools is quite similar because they share a Catholic ethos.

St Alban’s Catholic Primary School emphasises high expectations, strong behaviour and a supportive community where faith and learning are closely linked. The school encourages pupils to develop academically, socially and spiritually.

St Paul’s Catholic Primary School focuses on values such as respect, responsibility and kindness. Pupils are encouraged to contribute positively to the school community and take on responsibilities as they grow older.

Both schools place strong emphasis on pastoral care and community values.

Facilities and activities

Both schools offer a broad range of opportunities beyond the classroom.

At St Alban’s, pupils take part in school trips, residential visits and extracurricular clubs alongside their academic learning.

At St Paul’s, pupils also have access to a range of clubs, sports and enrichment activities, and the school provides additional support such as breakfast and after-school clubs.

These activities help support pupils’ wider development in addition to academic learning.

Size and community

The schools are similar in structure but differ slightly in size.

St Alban’s is slightly larger, with just over 400 pupils across the primary years.

St Paul’s is somewhat smaller, with just over 340 pupils, which can create a slightly more intimate school community.

Location

Both schools are located very close to each other in Elmbridge.

St Alban’s Catholic Primary School is in East Molesey near Hampton Court.

St Paul’s Catholic Primary School is in Thames Ditton along Hampton Court Way.

Because of their proximity, families in areas such as Molesey, Thames Ditton, Esher and parts of Kingston often consider both schools.

Overall

St Alban’s Catholic Primary School and St Paul’s Catholic Primary School are both respected Catholic primary schools with strong academic results and supportive communities.

St Alban’s is slightly larger and often recognised for particularly strong academic attainment.

St Paul’s offers a similarly supportive environment with strong pastoral care and a slightly smaller school community.

For many local families, the choice between the two schools often depends on location, parish connections and personal preference rather than major differences in educational quality.