St Mary Magdalene CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 3 to 11
Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good

Stanway Road, West Bromwich, B71 1RPOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

St Mary Magdalene CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a primary school in West Bromwich for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 133 schools in Sandwell. It ranks 17th of 17 primary schools in West Bromwich. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 12 November 2024, report published 11 December 2024

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 November 2024

This well-led school has a strong sense of identity and community. It is proud of its history and traditions. It teaches pupils to be honest and respectful, and to look for ways to serve others. This helps pupils to feel good about themselves, which is reflected in their positive and caring attitudes. Pupils are typically good mannered. They hold doors open for others and know the value of a kind comment or action. The school is a calm, harmonious place where pupils feel safe and secure. They enjoy lessons and greet others with smiles, warm words and good humour. Adults are positive role models. They show high levels of care and take time to listen to pupils and parents. Pupils know that an adult will always help them if they have any problems. Relationships across the school are excellent. Leaders set high expectations for pupils' learning and further improvement. The school offers a broad curriculum and has a strong track record in teaching reading. However, standards in writing and mathematics have dropped. School leaders and staff know there is room for improvement for teaching and learning in these subjects. They are busy making changes for the better.

What the school should improve

  • The quality of teaching and assessment in mathematics varies in effectiveness. This has hindered progress and standards. The school should continue to support staff with training and guidance to strengthen teaching and learning in mathematics. It should do this so that pupils make better progress in this subject and standards rise.
  • Pupils' writing could be better. While the school has made some changes, including a new approach to letter formation and handwriting, these are at an early stage and pupils' standard of writing remains variable. The school should continue to support staff in implementing the new approaches to writing with consistency so that standards continue to rise.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

31 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths42%

42%, 20 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score102

102, 4 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score102

102, 3 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score103

103, 2 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

229 pupils on roll, with places for 240

Eligible for free school meals23.1%

23.1%, 3.4 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language31%

31%, 9.4 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support17.5%

17.5%, 2.7 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan2.2%

2.2%, 3.8 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near St Mary Magdalene CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
All Saints CofE Primary School0.3 milesOfsted: Good62% met the expected standard
Eaton Valley Primary School0.4 milesOfsted: Good54% met the expected standard
Hargate Primary School0.7 milesOfsted: Outstanding66% met the expected standard
Pennyhill Primary School0.7 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standard52% met the expected standard
St John Bosco Catholic Primary School0.7 milesOfsted judgements: Outstanding83% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Voluntary controlled school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
3 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Mrs Ann Robinson
Address
Stanway Road, West Bromwich, B71 1RP
Local authority
Sandwell
URN
103989

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.